My cat (rescue, age unknown, estimated to be 8) has been diagnosed as having a tumour on his small intestine during a regular examination.

Following an x-ray, the vet identified the tumour and also that he had fluid around his lungs, as only one lung could be seen on the x-ray. whilst under mild anaesthetic for the x-ray, 6cc of fluid was removed from his lung area.

The vet also noted that there was significant osteoporosis of my cats spine, indicating that he may be over 12 years old

Over the last week my cat has deteriorated a lot, and I don’t expect him to last much longer, he is still eating, not had a poo for at least 3-4days, his belly is now very swollen (possibly due to the tumour) but his berating is getting very shallow.

My question that I keep asking myself, is “is this diagnosis correct?” or am I just hoping for this to be just an infection, or a ‘slight blockage’ that could be fixed with drugs or a small operation, as I don’t want to loose my cat.

Im sorry to read about your cat's health issues.

What did the vet say about the tumour? Is it operable, does your cat need a biopsy?

ETA if you cat has not been to to toilet for a few days and his breathing is getting shallow, I think you need to take him back to the vets ASAP.

I am sorry that i cannot give you much advice. If he was mine I would ask the vet if they can operate and take the tumour out.
Did the vet say anything about any treatment.?
I would ring them up tonight if they are still open and have a word.
You can always take your cat to another vet for a second opinion.
Write all the symptons down that he has and also it is best to write down any questions that you want answering.
Somes when you get into the surgery you forget things and get home and wished you had mentioned such and such.

I hope someone on here will give you some advice.

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If breathing is compromised then you need to take him straight back to the vets to have it removed. It's quite common for it to build-up again. Given the recent swellling I'd also suspect it is now in the abdominal cavity as well as a tumour is very unlikely to be the cause of swelling of this extent.

You need to have a further discussion with your vet about the type of cancer and explore surgical options for the intestinal tumour. I do know these are often removed since they are capable of forming an obstruction and a biopsy is taken. If it is lymphoma then it's one of the more treatable cancers. Is your cat currently on steroids? Chemotherapy is another option ( post-surgery) if lymphoma confirmed though it sounds very likely to me.

Has your cat been tested for Felv? Sometimes cats who are positive can develop mediastinal lymphoma which sounds likely given the fluid build-up. Analysis of the fluid would tell the vets more about the exact cause of it.

How is your cat today? Hope he is okay.

Cat had a poo last night and a good wee. his breathing is shallow, but about 30 breaths per min. Still eating too.

my vet says she is familiar with this type of tumour and it is rarely operable, if you do operate to remove the tumour, it will return in a matter of months. With my cats breathing issue he is unlikely to survive the anaesthetic.

Having no experience of this, as I’m not a vet, you have to trust in what your vet says.

I’d love to be able to have a simple operation and he will be 100% again, but I don’t think this is the case, unless anyone actually knows or has first hand experience of this and can give me some hope.

It might be worth getting a second opinion here. Sometimes what one vet considers a challenge another has an entirely different approach.

If a tumour is causing an obstruction then following surgery, treatment - if deemed appropriate - is instigated which prevents it reforming. Alternatively chemo can be used to shrink a mass which is not causing a blockage without any surgical intervention. The advantage here is that it works in a systemic way, targeting all the cancer in the body regardless of the location.

Is he even on steroids at present?