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My cat has a soft lump above her eye. Is it an allergy or vet visit?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 6 years and 11 months old | 13 lbs

Hi there, My cat has a lump above her eye (swelling over the eyelid) approx 15mm - 18mm. Feels soft and she has let me touch it without showing signs of pain or discomfort. Seems to have happened today and only been out the house 2 hours. She keeps the eye half closed. Could it be an allergy or sting or should I make an appointment at the vets for a check-up? Many thanks, Sarah

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2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Ana M, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on June 20th, 2018

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Betsy. She may have experienced an insect bite or sting as you mentioned. If this is the case, the swelling should start resolving within 24 hours. If it gets bigger or she develops difficulty breathing, these are signs of an allergic reaction. She will need to see her veterinarian. If the eye itself is red or develops discharge, she will need to have this evaluated as well. If the swelling starts to come down and she is otherwise acting normal, then she will be just fine. I hope this information helps!

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    Answered By Dr. Massimo Orioles, DVM, Cert AVP, MRCVS

    Veterinarian

    Published on November 23rd, 2018

    This could be due to an acute allergic reaction or possibly an infection (abscess). An immediate check up would be required to confirm one of these clinical suspicion and treat appropriately. Giving the fact that the swelling is rapidly spreading I would recommend to have her checked as soon as possible. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. Please find the time to give us a feedback about the consultation as that will be used to improve our service.

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