TL;DR: Small eyelid growths in cats are typically benign skin tags or oil gland tumors that are not urgent unless they cause irritation, bleeding, or rapid changes.
What are the most common types of growths found on a cat's eyelid?
Finding a small, wart-like bump on your cat's eyelid is often a sign of a meibomian gland adenoma or a simple skin tag. These are common growths that typically originate from the oil glands along the eyelid margin. While they may look like viral warts, they are most often benign tumors that develop as cats age.
Is a growth on my cat's eyelid considered a medical emergency?
- The urgency level for a small, stable growth is Low.
- If your cat is acting normally, not squinting, and the eye does not appear red or irritated, this can generally wait for a routine veterinary appointment.
- Schedule a visit sooner if the growth is bleeding, growing rapidly, or causing your cat to paw at their face.
How can taking a photo of the eyelid growth help my veterinarian with triage?
- Allows the medical team to assess the growth's location, size, and appearance before you even enter the clinic.
- Serves as a baseline to monitor for any changes in shape or color over time.
- Ensures the best possible triage and care plan for your pet.
Clinical Context (Merck Veterinary Manual)
Eyelid and conjunctival tumors are frequent primary ophthalmic neoplasms in cats, often malignant and more challenging to treat than in dogs. Squamous cell carcinomas are common, especially in white cats with nonpigmented eyelid margins, appearing as pink, roughened, irregular masses or thickened ulcerations on the eyelids, conjunctivae, or nictitating membrane. Less frequent neoplasms include adenocarcinomas, fibrosarcomas, neurofibrosarcomas, and basal cell carcinomas. Treatment strategies such as surgical excision, radiation therapy, and cryotherapy are employed based on tumor type, location, and size; however, the prognosis for these malignant tumors is generally poor.
Chapter: Oncology, Ophthalmology
Source: The Merck Veterinary Manual, 11th Edition (Page 518)