Why Does My Senior Cat Have a Bony Bump on Her Nose? (Vet Answered)

Dear Lily, 

Thank you so much for writing in.

Lumps on cats are always a worry, and there are lots of different things that could cause a mass or swelling on a cat's nose, but the fact that Sally's had a lump there her whole life makes me a lot less worried in this particular instance.

Ordinarily, with a hard bony lump coming up on a cat's nose, I would be concerned about the possibility of tumors, cancer, or infection. But the fact that this bony bump seems to have become more prominent suggests that it's probably something much more benign, and it is most likely part of Sally's skeletal anatomy. The fact that it doesn't seem to be painful or bother her when it's touched is a really good sign.

However, I'm always suspicious when something changes.

It could be that the lump itself has become more prominent or grown in size, or it actually could be that the tissue surrounding it has shrunken.

Muscle mass and body fat content can shift and change as we age, and the same applies to cats. This can result in things that weren't very visible before becoming more obvious. Although I'm not highly suspicious that this lump is anything too sinister, that doesn't mean we should just ignore it and assume that this is the case.

I recommend keeping a very close eye on it. Try to get some clear images of Sally's nose next to something measurable that you can keep taking photos with, so you can keep objective records of how the lump is changing over time. If it continues to grow, changes shape, or starts bothering her, book her in with the vet so that they can examine her, possibly do some X-rays, and make sure that there isn't anything to worry about.

Hopefully, it is simply the fact that this is just a normal part of her nose that's just becoming a little bit more prominent with age.

Take care,

Dr Karyn