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My cat has a lump under his jaw. What could it be and is it serious?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | unneutered | 11 years and 3 months old

Hello, My cat has a ball of skin hanging from the bottom of his head, under the lower jaw. What is it? And is it removable?

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1 Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on April 11th, 2020

This could be a growth and in a cat Laurence's age, this could be malignant. It may be able to be removed, but I can't say it for certain without seeing him in person. 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 his vet a call in the morning to make him an appointment. I hope this helps!

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