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Cats Health

My cat, Zephyr, has calcium on his exterior skull.  He is happy and eats great.  Last year the vet did surgery for $400. and that's when we discovered it was calcium because it just crumbled and there wasn't anything to send to the lab.  The impressive thing was that a mere 4 months later it grew back bigger and in 2 places this time: the top of his head and his neck.  It doesn't seem to bother him but he does beat up on his sister, Blue, a little more.  That could be an allusion on my part.  I had another vet look at him 2 months ago and she believes its a malignant tumor and that it will cost $1000 to operate to find out.  Well you know what I think of that.  Its not the money, its that he acts like he feels good and he eats well.  Please advise.

Lucy
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587315 tn?1333552783
Hi Lucy, I am glad you got your baby in to see a specialist.  I've had to see several of them, and most have been pretty amazing.  So glad that we pet owners have that option!  Anyway, I am sorry that you didn't get better news.  VERY sorry!  I hope Zephyr continues to feel good and eat well!

Hugs
ZQ

PS-Thanks for the update!  If you have any other questions or concerns or want some opinions.....come back to see us!
Helpful - 0
874521 tn?1424116797
Oh that is sooo sad to learn, I sure was hoping for better news from you.
However don't rule out it being benign theres always hope...in any event I do hope Zephr does well for as long as possible, as long as there is no pain.
Poor little tyke, our pets are like our children its so hard to learn bad news like that, its ok to cry Lucy, I would too.
Please give him an extra hug from me. and post often to let us know how he's doing.  :-(
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you all for your feedback:

I followed your advise and the last vets.  I took Zephyr to Metropolitan Veterinary Specialists. Not good news.  If the bumps were calcium, like last year, they would have grown back in the same place.  The vet last should have sent whatever crumbled samples he got from Zephyr's head to the lab.  Anyway, now Zephyr has probably malignant cancer on top of his head(further back than where the calcium came up) and all around his neck and left ear.  The specialist said the good thing about cats is that they are so instinctive that if they are eating good and playing and don't know they have cancer don't tell them.  Meaning a biopsy is not even a good idea.  It could be benign.  But even if it wasn't they couldn't operate and clean up the cancer around his neck and ear.  He may feel good for 6 days or 6 months or maybe longer but when he doesn't that's when I have to put him down.  I'm crying now because that will be tough.  Zephyr is a unique cat.  He's a large russian blue and looks like a wolf with large gold round eyes and big white teeth.  But he is sensitive and a lap cat.  I'll try to figure out how to send some pictures.  Thanks again.

Lucy  
Helpful - 0
541150 tn?1306033843
I totally agree with ZQ. You need some answers. Don’t you doubt that. It’s your cat the one who is in this situation, and you as well.

Good Luck and keep us posted.
Helpful - 0
587315 tn?1333552783
  For the amount of money you spent, you deserve some answers!!!  I would write all your  questions and concerns down, and call your vet and start asking away.  And, I would also ask for a referral to a veterinary surgical specialist or an internist.  And.....YES, they really do have these specialists!  They've had several more years of training and would have much better luck getting a decent biopsy of that mass and removing it!  That mass sounds worrisome, and I really think it's important to find out what it is.

Best wishes to you!
Helpful - 0
874521 tn?1424116797
Hi Lucy welcome to the cat community, I hope we can be of some help to you.
I read your question last night and tried to research this strange calcium deposit to help understand whats going on....I'm afraid I wasn't successful. I couldn't find any info on this at all.
I would quiz the Vet again and get them to do some digging for you.
As far as spending $1000 on surgery, I would get all the info I could to understand whats going on first than make a decision....not spend all that money on just exploratory work.....Why can't they do a biopsy without the huge surgery they are recommending? seems strange to me.
Or another option is why not the $400 removal as before?
How old is Zephyr?
Let us know what you decide and how its going please.
Helpful - 0
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