Feline Endocrine Tumors

sidsmom · ‎11-25-2011

About a month ago, my sweet kitty slipped off a chair & fell on his shoulder. Hummmm...something's not right. I monitored it overnight & next morning, it was huge! Thinking his shoulder was dislocated, the vet took X-rays & gave me the bad news. There's a endocrine tumor underneath his scapula...and having it so aggressive is not a good sign. Vet said a tumor that large would require surgery....maybe an amputation...and that doesn't guarantee it won't spread. I decided not to do surgery. I really thought I would have to put him down soon. Fast forward a month, the swelling is down but the tumor is still there. He's very active & plays but limps...less pronounced but still limps. He would tell me if it hurts.

Endocrine tumors are rare, but even more rare in felines. I'm thinking it's in a "holding pattern" right now, but will continue to grow in time. I've made peace w/ his future & enjoying every second with him (Smudge is 10yrs old...a Katrina Hurricane rescue!).

Do you or anyone you know have had experience with Feline Endocrine Tumors? If so, tell me your story. TIA!

mousiegirl · ‎03-09-2010

If he's limping, it hurts! It hurts when he walks, so he limps. If it didn't hurt, he wouldn't limp.

hckynut · ‎03-10-2010

On 2/7/2014 mousiegirl said:
If he's limping, it hurts! It hurts when he walks, so he limps. If it didn't hurt, he wouldn't limp.

Many animals, and people, limp for reasons other than pain. Could go into the physiology of the why's of this but will spare everyone. My wife is limping right now because of a stroke that effected her left side. This has absolutely nothing to do with her being in pain. 4 legged animals are no different.

I think "sidsmom" will know when it is time for Smudge, which could be many happy and pain free years of love for him and from him.

hckynut(john)

sidsmom · ‎11-25-2011

Thanks, John, for commenting. I think you said it better than I...my Smudge cat is not in pain. He might walk a little funny, but definitely not in pain...in fact, he's chasing a ball as I type! Compared to when he was diagnosed, it's almost a 180. Though given his condition & the aggressiveness of the tumor, I evaluate his behavior every day looking for signs of any distress. So far, so good. He's one happy, spoiled Kitty! =^..^=

sophiamarie · ‎08-08-2013

sidsmom: My husband suggested that it might not be a tumor at all but rather an inflamed bursa. It sounds more like that than it does a tumor that would crop up overnight as a result of an injury.

He thinks it sounds more like an inflammation of the bursa, which can mimic a tumor. The coincidence of the cat falling on his shoulder and having a tumor the next day, sounds a bit of a stretch.

If it were me, I would certainly seek a second opinion. Hope he is feeling better...... Smile

Sammycat1 · ‎03-09-2010

Yes, I have experience with this, and I've been a cat owner for 35 years. A dear friend's cat fell in a similar fashion; the tumor had grown so aggressively it actually fractured the cat's scapula. Cats are masters at not showing pain, and often do not show it until at death's door. All 4 legged creatures are not interchangeable. The limp is most probably due to pain....the tumor is pressing on tissues and nerves, and it's aggressively growing. Ask you vet about low-dose prednisolone to keep inflammation of cancer at bay, give your kitty some pain relief, thereby giving it a better quality of life. They can play yet still be in pain...it's part of their makeup to avoid showing weakness to predators. Not being a downer, just suggesting from experience and want you and your kitty to have as many good quality days as possible. Pain relief is tough in cats but it is available...talk to your vet. Best wishes to you and hope your kitty has many many great days ahead with you.