Cat Lipomas

They are benign, slow-growing, noncancerous tumors that form from fat cells.

Lipomas are very common in dogs, while they are far less common in cats.

Even if just one mass is present, cats with lipomas are likely to develop more than one.

The lesion is most commonly observed on a cat's chest, tummy, neck, back, and upper legs, although it can appear anywhere.

They grow in the subcutaneous tissues beneath the skin the most, although they can also grow on internal organs.

Lipomas in cats are often flexible and movable to the touch, but they can also be harder and more attached to the surrounding tissues.

They should have the same warmth as the surrounding skin, and the skin above them should be normal and free of lesions.

They can become necrotic when they outgrow their blood supply, which happens less frequently in cats than dogs.

Obese and overweight cats are more likely to develop lipomas than healthy-weight cats.

Your vet will most likely recommend a fine-needle aspirate (FNA) and cytology test.

The vet inserts a needle into a portion of the mass to collect a sample of cells for this test.

The cells are "smeared" onto a microscope slide, stained, and ready for observation under a microscope.

Lipomas are frequently diagnosed based on their typical look under the microscope.

A larger tissue sample, known as a biopsy, is required for a confirmative diagnosis.

This somewhat more invasive treatment necessitates a brief operation, but it is still quite safe.