Open tumor under arm (18 year old cat)🐈‍⬛

Good day, I have a question for your opinion regarding my 18 year old cat. She has an open tumor under her right arm, which is getting bigger and bigger. Despite going to the vet, they said that nothing could be done (surgery) because of her age and the inability to go under total anesthesia. Do you have any suggestions on what can be done to help her in the form of applying some cream or medicine? Right now the wound stinks and doesn't look good at all. It also bleeds and leaves blood stains. My cat regularly eats, drinks water and goes to the toilet. She has good days and bad days, sometimes it hurts her and she is slower than usual. I will sent you the picture from not long ago (at this point the wound got deeper). If you have any advice on how to help the wound smell less or hurt less it would mean a lot since she can't go under any operation. Thanks in advance!

Hello!  I wonder why you and your vet haven't discussed medical alternatives - one would think that, in a consultation where surgery had just been ruled out, a discussion about the plan going forward would be the next logical direction.  I think that the best plan would be to go back to the vet who has seen this lump (is it a mammary tumour?) in context and to take their advice.  Without knowing the context, I am unaware whether your vet may have suggested euthanasia, pain releif and antibiotics or something else.  I hope that that helps.

It is worth adding that even if surgery were to be an option, it doesnt always make it the correction decision. These decisions are usually multifactoral.  With animals, a huge part of the greiving process may be to come to terms with the choices, or even lack of choices  available and your vet can help you with this.  There is a charity called the Ralph Site (web-search them) who specialise in this area.  They can sometimes offer extra help in cats whose life span may be limited.  We hope that something here is of help.