Help! I think something is wrong with my cat!

@foxyfire33 (10005)
United States
June 12, 2008 2:03pm CST
I know we probably just need to take her to the vet but no one is home right now so I can't get her there at the moment and I'm worried. She's acting fine but she's developed a hard swelling on her left side under her ribs. It's roughly the size of my palm. She has almost 6 week old kittens that are just beginning to wean. She does not wander far from the porch so I don't think it could be a trauma of any kind. The online searches I've done have been non specific for the chest area...only saying it was really bad if it was in her abdomen. Any ideas or suggestions?
2 people like this
9 responses
@cjgrooms (4456)
• United States
12 Jun 08
I don't have an answer for you but maybe you could call a vets office and ask them. Good Luck!
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
13 Jun 08
They just said the couldn't tell until I brought her in, which I couldn't do since I had no vehicle today. I followed Goodie's advice and it seems to have worked.
• Canada
12 Jun 08
Is the swelling around a nipple where the kittens maybe didn't nurse. She could have mastitis, or a lump that is not related to mastitis, either way you will need to take her to the vet for a diagnosis.
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
13 Jun 08
No, it was more on her side but I followed Goodie's advice and she seems much better.
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
13 Jun 08
Thank goodness she is okay. I learned a long time ago the first thing to take into consideration when you're worrying about your cat is to see if they eat. If the cat won't eat, even their favorite foods then you had better get them to the vet quick! It has saved my cat's lives more than once. I had to rush my Maine Koon cat to the vet in a hurry as he stopped eating and started looking awful. It turned out to be a feline respiratory infection and after he had a shot and slept through the day he was fine. But the rule of thumb of if the cat won't eat, there is something wrong has been the handiest thing for me to keep in the fore front of my mind before I totally panic.
@wickedangel (1636)
• Dominican Republic
14 Jun 08
Hi there Foxyfire. I'm afraid I don't know much about cats so I can't help you there, although I would love to. As it is Saturday now I hope that things have movedon and that your cat is OK. I have just come back from the UK and so have a backlog of discussions to go through! Take care!
@fifileigh (3615)
• United States
14 Jun 08
i hope it isnt a tumor. my late dog had a tumor in her stomach. she lived with it for one year until she went in her sleep one day. but she was happy until the end when she went on her own will or God's will. she didnt seem to be affected by it, but it just looked big. i just made her comfortable in her own home so she could relax at home.
@ruby222 (4847)
13 Jun 08
Hi Foxy...well dont worry too much yet..it could easily be something quite simple..my little dog has some `fatty masses` under his chest and belly....its just the fact that the love we have for our pets is so strong..like lovong a child!!and if someting is amiss then we tend to get panicky...i do the same ..take care and hope all is well.x
@Trace86 (5030)
• United States
13 Jun 08
I am a bit late coming to this discussion. My first instinct was to say a clogged milk duct as others have said. I am glad that the moist heat has helped and she seems better. I know how helpless a person can feel when their pet, who is part of their family, isn't feeling well and just can't tell you what is wrong or how they feel. I am just so glad the others advice solved your problem. Give the little mama an ear scratch for me.
@ElicBxn (63235)
• United States
13 Jun 08
sounds like it could be an abcess, it would be a good idea to get her to the vet as soon as you can.
13 Jun 08
Whatever happen ,no worries I CAN GIVE YOU 2 KITTEN TO LOVE AGAIN. It's not hard to be friend with our kitten they are tame.We live in sydney australia were do uou live...