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About a month ago I found a lump the size of a pea between the shoulder blades of my 3 yr old cat. Last week I found another one on the right side behind the shoulder/armpit. Today, I found another one forming next to the second one. It is still smaller. They are hard. They do not appear to be "floating". We were in the process of moving to a new area, so I put off an appointment. We have a selection of smaller private practice vets in our area with which we have no experience. His regular vet is about an hour and a half from here but is a larger clinic. I am wondering if there is a sense of urgency. There does not seem to be any discomfort, shows no other symptoms. He is eating well. Any ideas about what they are? I have seen something similar in a human, where it is a thread that grows and tumors pop up along the thread. In that case they did surgery to remove it. Please advise me. Thanks, Donna

Optional Information:
Age: 3; Male; Breed: Cat

Already Tried:
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Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Dan C., DVM:Hello!
Customer (name blocked for privacy):Hello
Dan C., DVM:Does your cat go outdoors?
Customer (name blocked for privacy):No, never.
Dan C., DVM:Any other animals in the household?
Customer (name blocked for privacy):We have a 6 year old border collie mis that goes out on a chain. We do not allow her to run loose. We also have a 6 year old male cat (both cats are nuetered)
Customer (name blocked for privacy):The other cat does not go outside either.
Dan C., DVM:Do your cats roughhouse?
Customer (name blocked for privacy):Yes
Dan C., DVM:Is there any hair loss associated with the lumps? Are they painful when you handle them?
Customer (name blocked for privacy):No hair loss, and he doesn't seem to mind me rubbing across them when he is being petted.
Dan C., DVM:When was he last vaccinated?
Customer (name blocked for privacy):he is current on shots. I don't have dates at my fingertips right now.
Dan C., DVM:Was it within the last month?
Customer (name blocked for privacy):no, about 9 months or so.
Customer (name blocked for privacy):hello???
Dan C., DVM:You sound like a great caretaker for your critters. This is most likely not anything to be distressed about. There are no types of tumors that grow on the "chains" you describe that occur in cats under the skin like this, except mammary tumors in females. What you are seeing is probably a type of epidermal (the second skin layer) cyst still here!

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