The kitty rescued from near the dumpster this afternoon did not have bite wounds and abscesses on his neck. The five year old dilute orange had a tumor. Once removed, the tumor was sliced open and examined. This sweet kitty has squamous cell carcinoma BUT the vet believes he got it all out in one cut. He will be confined to a cage (he is going a bit crazy at the moment) for 3 weeks, then transferred to the Introduction Cage in the main enclosure to be gradually introduced into the population and remain there for 3 months before being put up for adoption.

If the squamous cell returns, it will be during that time period and it will return with a vengeance and take no prisoners. I’ve sadly had a few cats in the past with this awful cancer and once you piss it off and bother it- it can be brutal when it returns. I am hoping the vet is correct and all of it has been lopped off. Right now, he could go trick or treating as Frankenstein’s cat. Horrible incision on his neck and head.