Lipoma in a cat

Soft, fatty tumors called lipomas may develop on your cat’s body. Though they may sound concerning, they are generally innocuous. When petting their furry friends, many cat owners notice these lumps, which raises questions about what they are and what can be done about them.

These tumors, which can vary in size and location, frequently appear in older cats. Since most lipomas are painless, many cats can live with them without experiencing any problems. Nonetheless, it’s wise to monitor your cat’s body for any new lumps or changes.

This post will discuss lipomas, including their causes, symptoms, and what to do if you notice one on your cat. Gaining knowledge about lipomas can boost your self-assurance in taking care of the health and welfare of your pet.

Signs and treatment of lipomas in cats

A lipoma is a type of tumor that primarily consists of adipose tissue, though connective tissue is also possible. It is benign and does not endanger the life of a fluffy one, but you must schedule a veterinarian examination for your pet.

A lipoma is primarily composed of fat and can develop on any part of the body that has this tissue, including internal organs and subcutaneous tissue. Typically, a lipoma grows slowly. It frequently grows deeply into the body, rupturing muscles and blood vessels all the way up to the periosteum. At that point, it is often accompanied by excruciating pain and decreased blood flow. The course of treatment is not very challenging.

Anywhere there is adipose tissue in the body, lipomatosis can develop.

Most of the time, the doctor advises having the lipoma removed, particularly if it gets in the way of the cat’s daily activities like eating or running or if it’s in a potentially dangerous location (like the neck area). The procedure is quick and easy to perform. However, there are also fatty tumors that infiltrate and grow into blood vessels and muscles. They are poorly articulated, and it is difficult to draw boundaries around them. These neoplasms are more likely to become malignant, and their removal is more challenging.

Prior to the intervention, other diagnoses such as cancer, cyst suppuration, and other neoplasms must be ruled out. Self-medication is very risky and totally unacceptable.

Causes of occurrence

• genetics;
• metabolism disorder;
• hormonal disorders;
• old age (most often cats over nine years old suffer from this);
• endocrine system pathologies (such as hyperthyroidism);
• sedentary lifestyle;
• concomitant diseases

The majority of cats over nine years old who develop lipoma

It’s commonly accepted that fat people are more likely to develop lipomas. This is a false impression. Of course, being overweight and overeating cause metabolic problems and other pathologies, which raise the risk of lipoma in cats, but the relationship between these factors and the cat’s weight is not solely dependent on it. Additionally, thin cats run the risk of becoming ill. Currently, the primary explanation for the increase in adipose tissue is thought to be the absence of lipase, an enzyme that breaks down fat.

By the way! Ixodid tick activity can occasionally be mistaken for a lipoma. Below, you can read about this kind of parasite and how to get rid of it from the animal’s body.

Tick ixodid in a cat

Benign fatty tumors under the skin can develop in cats as lipomas. Although most of the time they are benign and don’t need to be treated, it’s crucial for pet owners to keep an eye out for any changes in their cat’s lump count or size. A veterinary visit is necessary to make sure a lipoma is not something more serious if it starts to bother you or changes. Knowing about lipomas enables you to maintain the wellbeing and health of your pet.

Should it be removed?

• In some cases, the lipoma becomes malignant and degenerates into liposarcoma, which definitely leads to death;
• a fatty tumor turns out to be not what it seems (that is, an examination shows that it is a tumor of a different kind);
• a lipoma can compress blood vessels;
• tumors interfere with the cat"s movements.

The removal of a neck-region lipoma is necessary.

Take note: A lipoma in the cat’s neck region needs to be removed.

When it is possible not to interfere

• does not cause pain or serious inconvenience;
• small in size and does not grow;
• does not have signs of inflammation or pus.

Never pierce the lipoma, warm it up, or apply compresses to it. It won’t go away by itself. This will only encourage it to grow and eventually turn into a malignant one.

A lipoma can only be removed by a veterinarian.

Should a lipoma on the neck be removed?

Even in cases where it appears that the tumor is not causing any problems for the cat, neck lipomas are always removed surgically. In this instance, there’s always a chance that the tumor will squeeze significant blood vessels and cut off the brain’s oxygen supply. The latter is dangerous because it can result in brain hypoxia and death.

Diagnostics

A veterinarian makes the diagnosis based on histological analysis, external examination, X-ray, and ultrasound examinations. A lipoma is typically immediately visible to a skilled specialist due to its well-defined boundaries, palpable nature, and ease of visibility. However, occasionally the tumor is painful, has hazy borders, and develops deep within. The results of a tissue sample examination are used to determine benignity and malignancy instead of visual inspection. Self-diagnosis is unacceptable in any case; a doctor alone has the final say in the matter.

The veterinarian will diagnose the tumor and determine whether it is benign or malignant.

Indirect signs are the only way to determine whether a lipoma is present if it is deep within the internal organs. In order to obtain a comprehensive image, the veterinarian utilizes contemporary research techniques like MRI and CT. They enable precise determination of the tumor’s location and size.

Types of lipomas

• infiltrative;
• non-infiltrative.

Working with the first type is very simple because they are easily palpable, visible, and have distinct contours. Additionally, they are not connected to nearby tissues and organs. The second ones need more work to remove because they are far more dangerous. This is because some of the surrounding tissue that has been impacted by the tumor must also be removed in addition to the area beneath it. This particular kind of lipoma is most likely to develop into cancer. In addition to surgery, radiotherapy is also prescribed during their treatment, which greatly improves their chances of making a full recovery.

Although benign, lipomas in cats can cause worry for their owners. Although these fatty tumors are usually benign, their location and size may occasionally make them uncomfortable or lead to complications.

See a veterinarian immediately if your cat has any unusual lumps on them. They are able to evaluate the growth and decide if treatment or observation is necessary. Frequent examinations can aid in identifying problems early.

Keeping your cat in good health with a balanced diet and regular exercise can help lower their chance of developing lipomas. Monitoring your pet’s weight and general health is an excellent method to promote their wellbeing.

As a pet owner, knowing about lipomas can help allay your concerns. Your cat can maintain a happy and healthy life with the correct care and attention.

Video on the topic

UNUSUAL TREATMENT of a lipoma in 3 DAYS

What does a lipoma consist of?

lipoma cat. lipoma in a cat

Marisa has a lipoma

A tumor burst in a cat 😒