16 year old tabby with NEW black spot on tongue

My 16 year old tabby has a new spot on her tongue, I was lucky enough to get this shot of her yawning. Hope it's clear enough. She is a big scaredy-cat and has lived a very healthy happy life indoors only and has not been to the vet since her kitten shots. She is very timid, does not like to be held, and runs from little sounds. The only way a vet will see this is if she is given something at home to fall asleep for examination. Appreciate your input. Tammy

Hello!  Is this flat and continuous with the skin of the tongue, or could it be a wound?  In either case, I would be concerned about a new dark patch on a tongue and would suggest that you show the picture (as good a picture as you can get) to your vet as soon as possible (an emergency if affecting her eating).  You may have to pay a consult fee even with no cat present, but they could discuss the possible diagnoses and whether or not a biopsy might be appropriate.   They may have to discuss with issue with a pathologist, who can often tell you the likelihood of it being sinister and may have data to reccommend the best approach.

Possibilities are trauma, inflammatory or infectious diseases, ulcers or cancer, so a rapid response may be important (if, for example, it is stopping her from eating or drinking, it may well be an emergency in the short term).   As ever, always ask your vet to triage (decide the priority) rather than use us as a guide.   Best of luck and please do let us know what happens next.

Thank you so much. Otherwise, she is perfectly healthy, eating and drinking well. I will continue to try and get the perfect photo so show if it's flat or raised and show our vet. At 16, she has already had a nice long life for a cat and she is even getting more playful than when she was young. Putting her in a carrier and forcing her down for an exam would be torture for. Thanks for your replies

That's okay.  My main concern is oral cancer (eg oral squamous cell carcinoma) which may be on the list for flattish, non painful dark areas.  However if you chat to your vet and even if it is on their list, treatment is always the owner's decision.

Update...after what I just read (copied below), I am DEFINATELY NOT putting her through that for 1.5 to 3 months of life. Instead she will be be happy as long as she can, while napping by a sunny window, getting brushed and loved. How Long Can cats live with tongue cancer? Multiple different treatments have been explored including radical surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hyperthermia, cryotherapy, anti-inflammatory therapy and combinations of the above. Consistently, studies indicate an average life expectancy of only 1½ to 3 months.   Feline Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Fact Sheet - Davies ...https://vetspecialists.co.uk

Hello!   I'm pleased to see that you have visited Davies website.  There have been lots and lots of studies done on the various different types of cancer that can occur and the fact is that no-one call tell you how long your cat will live, with or without treatment because no-one knows what kind of tumour ( if any ) your cat has at this stage.  It sounds as though you have found some figures relating to SCC that deter you from wanting to try chemo if your cat had one of those (TBC)

More relevantly, you have decided in general to avoid any diagnostic procedure, on welfare grounds because your cat dislikes vets so much.  It sounds, therefore, as if you have a fairly solid position as regards to knowing what you want to do next.  You are fully aware that your cat may pass away soon if this is a cancer, or continue in pain without showing obvious signs if the lesion is painful (you don't think it is).  You are aware of services that are available who may be able to give you a more definite answer over a distance (i.e. veterinary pathologists) and I'm sure that you have found some articles by now regarding assessing pain in cats, in order that if such a time came as your cat was showing signs of pain, you would recognize it. All that I can usefully do therefore, is to urge you to continue to do the best that you can and to tell you about The Ralph Site, which is an amazing resource for grieving owners should the need arise, or even for talking more about difficult decisions such as this one.   Wishing you all the best.

Here it is:   theralphsite.com

Here it is:   theralphsite.com

Hello- I am back!  - as there may be a final possibility, Lentigo.    This refers to benign dark colourations, usually around the gums, mouth or lips and is specific to gingerish cats.  I'm afraid that this leaves you no better off because as with cancer it would be diagnosed by histology, which understandably you don't wish to have - but you might want to know that such a thing exists.  My understanding is that this condition is more likely to be multifocal (lots of coalescing spots) than a single mark, but it is benign (non cancerous) and so, similar to your conclusions about SCC, diagnosis would make little difference to the outcome - but for a happier reason.  Some sources state that this occurs from one year of age but again, a chat to your pathologist may tell you more about this.    That really is everything I can think of now.  All the best to you and your tabby, however long or short you have left.