An abdominal tumor in a cat may also be identified as abdominal cancer or abdominal distention. Abdominal distention occurs when there is an enlargement of a particular organ in the abdomen. It is also associated with fluid retention or the growth of tumors. Additionally, abdominal tumors can be recognized as abdominal cancer. What is truly important about an abdominal tumor is that it be diagnosed as quickly as possible so that treatment can begin. When a tumor of this nature grows as it is undetected, it puts the life a cat in serious jeopardy.
The Nature of an Abdominal Tumor
An abdominal tumor can be either malignant or benign. A tumor that is benign is considered simply an overgrowth of cells and often has no detrimental affect on a cat; unless the tumor continues to rapidly grow and inhibits the ability of nearby organs to function properly. When a tumor is malignant in nature, it means that the tumor is cancerous and there is a strong likelihood that it will spread to another location throughout the body.
Initial Abdominal Tumor Symptoms
It is always best to try to be proactive and to try to notice any significant differences in a cat. Doing this can help to get potentially harmful conditions diagnosed and treated and can help increase the chances of survival. The symptoms of a tumor can sometimes start out gradually and progress to a more serious nature. Other times, a tumor can appear almost overnight and the symptoms can be quite pronounced.
When a tumor first begins to grow, there may not be many noticeable changes in a cat’s behavior or physical stature. The first sign of an abdominal tumor is usually the slight distension of the abdomen. Naturally, other things like pregnancy would need to be ruled out as a cause of that distention. A cat will usually become more fatigued as time progresses and will likely have a decrease in appetite. It is important to note these types of behavioral changes, as they can help to assess at what rate the tumor is growing.
Major Abdominal Tumor Symptoms
Whether cancerous or not, as a tumor continues to grow within the abdominal cavity, it will undoubtedly begin to push on other organs within the immediate area. Because the entire abdominal area is linked together by the abdomen, intestines and lymph nodes, a tumor can very easily affect the functions of these other organs no matter where the tumor originates from.
In more pronounced cases, a cat may start to experience difficulty breathing if the tumor is growing upwards towards the lungs. In addition, any changes in bowel function or the onset of vomiting should indicate to an owner that the tumor is progressing very quickly. In combination with the distension of the abdomen, it should alert a cat owner that something is amiss. In extremely severe cases where the tumor actually grows large enough to interfere with the circulation of blood, a cat may collapse of a sudden and this should be considered a true medical emergency.