Cancer in Cats

Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. As many as one in five cats are likely to develop one of the many different forms of cancer at some stage of their lives.

The risk of developing cancer increases with age.

Causes

As with human cancers, the causes of cancer in cats are still not well understood. Possible causes include:

Toxic chemicals or exposure to harmful radiation.
Feline leukaemia virus (a very common cause in cats).
Abnormalities in the immune system that usually protects against infectious diseases.
Abnormal genes.

Signs

The signs of cancer are very variable and depend on the type of tissue cells involved, the site of the cancer and the stage of the disease.

If you find an unusual lump or swelling on your pet you should make an appointment for your vet to check it out. Although most lumps are harmless, some can be very dangerous if left untreated.

Risk factors

Cancer can occur in any animal at any age but certain types of cat are more susceptible to particular forms of cancer.

Cats with white fur and skin that like to sunbathe are vulnerable to skin cancers. Apply sun cream to exposed areas of skin on sunny days.
Feline leukaemia virus is the most common cause of cancer in the cat. Always ensure that you cat’s vaccinations are up to date

Treatment

Most forms of cancer can be treated, but this depends on the type of cancer and whether the disease has spread.

There are three basic options for treating cancers, not all are appropriate for every case and sometimes a combination of treatments has the best chance of success.

The treatment options are:

Surgical removal
Chemotherapy (drug treatment) - Chemotherapy in cats is used to improve quality of life in pets, and the side effects of chemotherapy seen in people are rarely experienced.
Radiotherapy (x-rays)

Quality of life

Discomfort can be severe when the cancer is advanced, but most cancer-related pain can be controlled. Your vet will try to improve your cat's quality of life rather than prolonging the life of your cat if it is suffering.

Diet

Many cancer patients have a poor appetite and so lose weight. Warming the food or feeding by hand may help stimulate your cat to eat. There are also special diets designed for animals with cancer which provide good nutrition even if your cat's appetite is poor.