Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

  • Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!

How to safely diagnose a lump on an old cat with a heart condition?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered | 8 lbs

Hi, my cat has a lump behind his right ear and it is close to his neck, he is around 15 and he has a heart condition, could you please tell me the procedure to use that would be less of a risk? I know everything is risky, but would like to try to diagnose this lump. Thank you for any help.

This question includes photos that may contain sensitive content. Click to view.

View more to consider that the photos may include sensitive content.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Image profile

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on November 9th, 2017

I'm sorry Bebe has a lump, but this is a great question! 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. I would speak to your vet about having this done on Bebe's lump if they feel it's necessary. I hope this helps :-)

Vote icon

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Questions

Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My cat is 4 years old, at the beginning of june an abnormal growing mass (apricot size) appeared on her spinal column (under skin) but visible through her fur. She eats and plays normally (no apperant pain) and i asked may doctors here in cairo (egy
I am sorry to hear that this is going on with your cat. I would recommend finding a vet that is willing to do a find needle aspirate and cytology (sending off the samples to be looked at under the microscope). A lot of times this can give us a more definitive diagnosis as to what is going on. By doing this test you'll be able to tell if the mass is cancerous or benign. And it will help you determine what course of treatment is best for her. Good luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hi, my 16yr old ( normally healthy) cat has a half walnut sized lump on her ribcage, no trauma has been involved, the local vet says it could be a tumor and wants to anaesthatise her, xray her, take a biopsy and take bloods. Is this common practice.?
Thank you for submitting your question regarding Milly. I will typically start with a procedure known as a fine needle aspirate. I use a small needle to collect a sample of cells to evaluate under the microscope. This can help to diagnose the mass. It is not as accurate as a biopsy, but it generally gives a lot of information. The cat needs to hold still and cooperate though. So cats are different to draw blood on awake. This may have been why the recommendation was made to anesthetize her and collect all the samples at once. I hope this information helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My cat has a small bump akin to a human mole where her shoulders are. She doesn’t seem bothered when we touch it or examine it. However, it is new. Should I be concerned?
This could be a benign tumor or a malignant 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 its cells, and examines the cells on a slide under a microscope. It's usually painless to the animal, and relatively quick to perform. Once the cause of the lump is diagnosed, the vet can discuss treatment options if needed. Give Claire's vet a call to make her an appointment.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I just discovered a large lump on the front side of my cat and it just appeared today. What could it possibly be? He is around 8 years old, and can't seem to keep weight no matter what we try.
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This could be a benign or malignant growth. This is often differentiated by a test called a fine needle aspirate (FNA) which is a pain free, inexpensive and easy procedure which in most cases will help reach a diagnosis. Sometimes a biopsy is needed for a definitive diagnosis. I recommend that you have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good day!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hi as you can see from the attached photo, my cat has a soft-ish lump on her back. It's white with some visible veins on it. I just wanna know if its potentially dangerous or not? (Ive been poking the lump and she is not in any pain whatsoever)
Unfortunately in a cat Toy's age, there's a chance any lump could be malignant. It could also be benign or a cyst. 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 its cells, and examines the cells on a slide under a microscope. It's usually painless to the animal, and relatively quick to perform. Once the cause of the lump is diagnosed, the vet can discuss treatment options if needed. I'd take her into a vet today to get this checked out. Best of luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I made an error when adding cate's age. She's 9 in August. I was planning to take her in for her vaccinations in a few weeks when a week ago I noticed a baby pea sized lump on her tummy near her nipple. It may be a skin tag or non malignant but Im co
The vet can give her a full exam and then can take samples if the lump with a needle. These will be spread on slides and sent to the lab for analysis. They could also take some blood to check organ function.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My cat seems to have a bomb under the neck near his chest area. I showed a pic of it to a friend who studies to be a vet and said it could be a tumor or neoplasia. What is next if this is the case?
The next step is to take Foffy into the vet to have this lump examined. It could be a malignant tumor, but it could also be a cyst or a benign tumor. 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. Once the cause of the lump is diagnosed, the vet can discuss treatment options with you. I'd make an appointment with the vet for Monday. Good luck, I hope this helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My cat is 15 years old.. about a year ago I found a small lump that looked almost like a wart on his back between his shoulders. He also has a lump on his front leg that is more under the surface and has a dark spot in the center... Should I seek tr
Thank you for providing a picture of the lump on Beaju's back. It could simply be a wart, but there is always a chance that any lump on a senior cat could be malignant. Same for the lump on his front leg. 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. I would take him into the vet on Monday to have these lumps examined and diagnosed so they can be treated as needed. I hope this helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
*re-uploaded with images* My cat has this growth/bump on her head. Should I get it checked? It is solid to the touch and doesn't appear to be causing pain. Thanks.
Thank you for posting again with the pictures! Yes, I would definitely get this lump checked. 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 its cells, and examines the cells on a slide under a microscope. It's usually painless to the animal, and relatively quick to perform. Once the cause of the lump is diagnosed, the vet can discuss treatment options if needed. Give Patsy's vet a call to make her an appointment. Best of luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Silver has still this nodule in the neck (right side) under the skin for 2 years now. It grew a little bit more this last year and it is a bit oval (1cmx1.5cm). The cat is healthy, 5.7 kg, full of energy and appetite, with nice fur. Do you still advi
Hello, and thanks for using Boop by Petco. The only way to know for sure what this little growth is, would be to have it tested in some way. The least invasive way to test is to do cytology, where your vet can use a needle to remove a few cells from the lump and look at them under the microscope. Cytology is not always 100% diagnostic, but it is minimally invasive and often allows us to gauge a level of concern, or diagnose certain types of common masses. The way to know for sure what that lump is, would be to have it surgically removed and send the lump itself in for testing (histopathology). Histopathology nearly always gives us a diagnosis, but of course is more invasive. While Silver's age (as a young adult) makes him less prone to scary malignant growths, and growths that are very slow to change may turn out to be benign, there is no way to know for sure what the growth is without having it tested in some way. You may choose to leave it that way, but doing so without having
Updated on September 24th, 2025

Related Searches

Cat Supplies Cat Food Heart & Blood Pressure Medicine for Cats Heartworm Prevention for Cats Wet Cat Food Cat Thyroid Medication Cat Medicine Pain Meds & Arthritis Relief for Cats Diuretics for Cats Vaccines and Shots for Cats Amlodipine Besylate Heart & Blood Pressure Medicine for Cats Benazepril Heart & Blood Pressure Medicine for Cats Enalapril Heart & Blood Pressure Medicine for Cats Epogen Heart & Blood Pressure Medicine for Cats Amlodipine Besylate Cat Medicine Sotalol Heart & Blood Pressure Medicine for Cats CAT by Dr Lisa Semintra Heart & Blood Pressure Medicine for Cats Advantage Heartworm Prevention for Cats CAT by Dr Lisa Cat Health & Wellness
image
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Sponsored