Why does my cat have an itchy neck lump? Should I see a vet?

Question

I just noticed that my cat has a large lump on the side of his neck that I had not noticed before that seems to itch. What could it be and what should I do? Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Male | neutered | 2 years and 5 months old | 12 lbs

Kevin Sanada, DVM · Accepted Answer

An itchy lump on the neck could be due to an infection in the skin. They can get abscesses if something gets stuck in the skin, or he get bitten. It could also be a type of tumor. Mast cell tumors can be itchy, but are not as commonly seen with cats. Other causes of lumps in the neck could be an enlarged lymph node, enlarged thyroid gland and different types of cysts. However, none of these causes tend to be itchy. It's best if you have a vet examine him to ensure he does not have signs of the more serious causes. Usually we can find out the cause of these lumps on exam with minimal testing. It will be well worth getting it diagnosed sooner rather than later. It's not an emergency, but would be best to have her seen within the next week. I hope that helps and Skippy gets better soon.

Why does my cat have an itchy neck lump? Should I see a vet?

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