Frustrating as it is to help a cat with IBS, I hope they decide that is what it must be since the lump turns out to be nothing signifant. My Artful Dodger had IBS for about 7 years and I had to switch his diet all the time, in part because he'd decide to stop eating one just when I thought things had settled down and in part because he'd just become sensitive to something else. Out of frustration, I would buy him regular foods, though avoiding both corn and chicken, and they would work as well as the vet foods.

As for the money, no sooner did I adopt all those cats than the crowned teeth that I'd been told three years ago needed work suddenly started hurting ferociously. I spent the last few days handing over money to the vet that I don't really have and reeling from the shock of a $16,000 treatment plan from my dentist - and that's after insurance! If you find a way to make several hundred dollars fast, and legally, please let me know. I'm having home-made oatmeal for lunch but I don't want to live like this, I like food far too much.