Not necessarily, but it's possible because we are trying to figure out the whole picture of what's going on. So if it's indicated, blood work like a complete blood count or chemistry might be indicated. If your pet is older, it might even include a urine test or a thyroid test for a cat. But we don't always require sedation. Lab work may or may not be required for the imaging.

Diagnostic imaging such as x-rays or ultrasound, which we do here, may be recommended if your pet is sick or hurt, such as limping on a certain leg, or if it's had trauma and we worry about fractures. An ultrasound might be indicated if we're worried about problems with the organs, like the kidneys or the liver, that's more specific for looking at the organs.

And skin cancer in cats is not a death sentence. It doesn't mean that, but it does mean that we want them in to deal with it as quickly as possible and help minimize any long-term issues we may have with it.

They're probably a little uncomfortable. Most of us have had warts and things along that line, and they don't tend to be terribly painful. If they're red and inflamed and oozing, they're uncomfortable, but by large, most cats aren't going to complain about a lump or a bump. They don't really complain about anything except something that just ticks them off. As you said, company, change in habits, or their food ball has a hole in the center, but they don't usually complain about not feeling well, or it takes a while to figure that out with cats.