Grown male outside cat has large sized boil uner front legs spanning back to his stomach area?

Question

Yesterday I went home to my grandparents house to get some more of my belongings. I was outside and I picked up my cat Grey-Bird is his name. He yelled like he was in a lot of pain and that's when I realized that he had a bump under his belly. I put him down, and continued to try to find out what the bump was and how big it was. I was saddened to find out that it starts on his right side directly under his front leg and spans the whole area back to his stomach area I'd say to the bottom of his stomach region. I am taking him to the vet monday, I realize things might not be so great after that for him, I'm just wondering what it is and if anyone who has any experiance with pets knows what the crap is going on. I raised this silly cat. A little over three years ago when I moved to Charleston, he and his brothers and sister were on the back pourch in a plastic bin their mother had left them in. There eyes had not opened yet. I love this cat what's wrong with him?

Hehehe very thrilled. It was just a bite and he is fine. And I'm happy! Thanks for all of your help

Answer 1

Cats skin heals fast, so any infection from a bite or injury usually gets locked inside when the entry point heals over. This leads to an abscess. The abscess is between the muscle layer and the skin layer, so can spread if the infection is pushed on, using up space just under the skin and spreading out -- which is what this sounds like.

He's probably running a fever too because it is infection. The vet will lance the area and drain the pus out, hopefully leaving a large enough area to continue draining to clear out everything. They usually flush the inside also but tiny bits can still hang on, which is why it's important to keep the wound open for a while so it heals from the inside out.

He'll likely get some antibiotics as well. It's treatable, just takes a bit of time.

Answer 2

Well, outside cats are notorious for getting abscesses. This is caused when one cat bites another, and although the bite may not leave a noticable puncture, the bacteria grows under the skin causing pus to build up until it ruptures. Usually abscesses are not as big as you are describing, but its always possible. If it is an abscess, then the "bump" you are seeing is a pocket of pus that will eventually rupture. Once it ruptures, it will need to be cleaned thoroughly (daily) and antibiotics are needed. And, you dont want it to close back up or scab over because another abcess will form, you want it to slowly heal shut. If it is an abscess, and it is as big as you are describing, then he most likely is running a fever and doesnt feel too well. Definitely get him to a vet asap. They do have lymph nodes in the armpit area that can grow if he has a lymphosarcoma, but it wouldnt be swelling onto his abdomen.

Answer 3

My cat had large bumps in a certain spot that would burst, leaving open sores. The vet just gave her a steroid and antibiotics along with a cream. It all cleared up in a couple of weeks.
could be a fungal infection, too. hopefully not a tumour

Answer 4

I don't have a cat, but I was once charged with looking after two, when house sitting once. One of the cats was a real handful. In the morning I made a coffee and went upstairs. She followed me and kept running between my feet, till eventually, I lost my balance and poured hot coffee over her back. She was fine, but I got daggers for the rest of the day. How's that work? She tries to break my neck and I'm the bad one.

Answer 5

With any luck, it's 'just' a bad abscess. Do you know if he has any other symptoms, like not eating, that might point towards it being a tumour?

Good luck at the vets.

Chalice

Answer 6

im afraid it sounds like some kind of cancer....but your vet will know for sure. hope things work out for the best.