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My cat has a knot behind its ear. What should I do about this lump?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

My cat has a knot behind his ear

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Laura E. McRae

Veterinary Technician

Published on January 8th, 2015

Any unexplained lumps, bumps, or masses on your pet should be evaluated by your veterinarian. Lumps/bumps can be abscesses, cysts, tumors (benign or malignant), allergic reactions, and even parasites under the skin. To make a diagnosis, your vet will want to get as much history as possible from you regarding the appearance of the lump; examine the size, shape, appearance, and texture of the lump; and may recommend a biopsy. Once a proper diagnosis is made, your vet will be able to offer a treatment plan.

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on February 7th, 2017

    I would have Miracle seen by a vet. I would be inclined to think that he was scratching there yesterday due to the lump, and now you've just noticed it. This lump could be a cyst, an abscess, or a benign tumor. Any suspicious lumps should be examined by the vet. The vet can perform a test called a fine needle aspirate on it. To do this, the vet sticks a small needle into the lump to get a sample of it's cells, and examines the cells on a slide under a microscope. It's usually painless to the animal, and relatively quick to perform. The vet can diagnose the cause of the lump and can treat it.

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