What a coincidence,I was laying in bed with my 9 month old pug last month , stroking and petting her and I felt a lump also between the shoulder blades. It also moved and didn`t seem to hurt her when I touched or messed with it. Anyway, I told my husband I was going to watch it for a week and then take her to the vet and have it checked. The week being because I have run to the vet for little scares so often my vet says I`m his best customer!! Anyway, the lump totaly has disappeared , I have checked and checked, so has my husband, nothing there now. No idea what it was, bug bite, knot from a nip when she playes with other dogs ??? Just don`t know !!

betcha it's related to the latest set of vaccinations:

Vets often give each vaccination in a different place to reduce the chance of swellings, lumps, reactions, etc.

It's probably a reaction to the vaccination, much like we used to get blisters when we had smallpox vaccinations.

If they were mine, I'd just give the vet a call to set my mind at rest.

I agree that this is almost certainly a reaction to the last set of vaccinations. Forgive me for doing a cyber-scream but:

VETS SHOULD NEVER GIVE VACCINATIONS BETWEEN THE SHOULDER BLADES !!! NEVER.

If Meghane sees this, she is going to say the same thing.

To make you feel better, it is almost certainly not the cancer that you're worried about (Vaccine Associated Fibrosarcoma). Your kittens are probably too young for that. However, anything is possible. Keep an eye on those lumps and let the vet see them as soon as possible. S/he should understand what's happened. Here in the States, many vets won't give further vaccinations, because an inflammatory reaction such as your kittens have had, can signal that later 'jabs' might provoke that cancer, in other words, that your cats are susceptible to it.

We lost our dear granny kitty to this cancer, so unfortunately I know a fair amount about it. To educate yourself, try googling VAS and VAS Awareness. Also go the url: http://www.pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/Feline_VAS_Support/

This is a wonderful support group which accepts only people with VAS kitties, or those who have had scares, such as you. If you join the group (which may take a day or two now, as it's Christmas) and tell them exactly what you've told us, you'll receive the best advice available on the Internet. They will all say the same thing - find a vet who understands the latest protocols for vaccines, try not to worry too much, because your furbabies are so very young, and think hard about doing any more shots. They were incredibly kind and helpful to me when my 13 year old cat contracted VAS, and they won't judge you or yell at you, because everyone there has been where you are today - looking at a strange, movable, painless lump and wondering what it is.

Just one more thing - if at all possible, space out the vaccinations, don't get them all at once. It's a lot to place on a kitten's system. The newest suggested regulations/protocols here in the States are: Rabies given low on the right rear leg, Leukemia given low on the left rear leg, the general kitten series (what you call 'flu') given on the exterior right shoulder blade.

Good luck - and do try our group!

Here is a link that might be useful: That Home Site

thankyou all for getting back too me
ill go join that group
ive had a good feel off them this morning and the lumps are still there i cant tell if they are going down or not.
im going to wait till thursday too see the outcome of the lumps and consult the vet.
if vets arent meant to put them in the back of the shoulders why do they!?
we put our trust in them :(

Sable-

The link goes to "whoops couldn't find that message".

?

It is very true, the vaccs should never be placed between the shoulder blades. It is the easiest place to subcutaneously administor a vaccination, but the most difficult to remove a cancerous tumor should one develop.

I would request the shots be given on the shoulder or upper thigh. I give all of my own vaccinations and do so in the rear thigh area. If, by some remote chance, a leg should have to be removed, I would rather it be a rear leg. It is slightly more difficult to get a good subcu area, but my dogs are patient, calm and don't jump around during the process.

If the lump is moving freely, don't worry about...just keep an eye on it (check it every few days) and it should begin to diminish. Your kitty will be just fine. :o)

I would call the vet, though and mention it to him/her and request that it be put in your file to have the shots injected elsewhere next time.

thankyou for advice
i triedt he web page and couldnt get it to work :s
im going to keep a eye on the lumps, buttons seems too be going down, or is it in my imagination. if i still feel them or worried by thursday i will phone the vet up and tell them the situation

Like everyone else has posted most likely it's a vaccine site reaction. Those can take several weeks to go away.

Lisa

If you're still interested, try this url:

http://www.feline-vas-support.org/

If that site doesn't explain how to join, then you might do what I did: google VAS support cats
The second site that should appear is for a cat named Shorti. Follow the links and you'll find the url for joining. And there are other good websites on that first google page.

"If vets aren't meant to put them in the back of the shoulders, why do they?" Because the protocols/regs aren't law, so it's not illegal to do so, and as has been said here, it's an easy location, even though it's the worst. Some American vets also still give scruff shots, but on the whole British vets are somewhat behind in understanding and preventing/treating this disease. There are a few members from the U.K. in our group, so we hear about it.

Blinkstar, don't check on it too often...it is easier to feel a difference if you wait a couple of days in between checking. Just make sure it is still moving around and not fixed to the muscle or bone.

One reason the vets do still use this area is that there is not much muscle to accidentally hit with the needle. Also...did they rub the vaccination area around after giving the shot? Occasionally these reactions occur because the site was not rubbed to distribute the vaccination...it was allowed to stay pooled. I rub the area gently immediately after giving the shot until I can no longer feel the bubble of vaccine. I have never had a lump reaction afterwards.

Don't rub the site, now...just check it gently.

this is why im not a fan of vaccines, i perfer to get titers done instead of follow the guidelines of the vaccine manufacturer. because every dog or cat is unique they cant possibly predict the exact amounts your animal should be given or how often. but...

my nine month old kitten went in on the 14th of dec for her spay and booster to her first shot. and now has a lump between her shoulders... i have been waiting for the holidays to be over to call to be sure that thats where they did put the vaccination. 99% sure thats where.

my origional thought was that maybe they didnt quite get under the skin and injected between two layers. and even though i was a bit upset that whoever gave my baby her injection wasnt quite qualified, i figured it would absorb into her body soon enough. but its been two weeks plus and there's been no change.

i have worked with animals most of my life and even in animal hospital for 4 years a while back and have never heard of VAS... i live in canada is this something maybe even my vet would be new to? i am starting to get nervous because as i said there has been no change in 2 and a half weeks and i have noticed her panting when shes playing or running, and if you think about it a cat is a small animal and its shoulder blades arent that far from its lungs.

what if a vet just passes it off as nothing if they are uneducated in vas?

im going to go read more about it now, but thanks for the heads up, i hadnt realized how common this problem was maybe i'll educate my vet on "scruff shots" and how bad they are. im hoping my kitten isnt made an example of.

thank you blink-star for posting this ")you've helped me with ur own question, and im just sorry i didnt have advise for you. all the best though, i know what your going through it isnt easy. and in my opinion, our vets should have a look at the cats without charge, its after care of something they did :)