The statistics are not comforting. A tumor found either on or in a cat is three to four times as likely to be malignant as a tumor discovered on a dog. Such cancerous tumors can spread to other tissues and wreak havoc on the body. And they occur all too frequently. One in five cats ends up diagnosed with cancer — frequently, but not always, in their later years.
But not all the news is bleak. Treatments for feline cancers have improved significantly. If caught early, cancer found in a cat can often now be successfully treated, affording a pet good odds on having her quality of life restored and the length of her life not cut short.
That’s where you come in. If you can recognize the possible warning signs of cancer as early as possible, your cat has the best chance of getting ahead of the disease with a proper diagnosis followed by treatment either with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, or a combination of two or more of those approaches.
To be sure, no sign is a diagnosis of cancer on its own. You should not jump to conclusions. But if you notice any of the following five changes in your cat, do not delay taking her to the veterinarian for a professional assessment.
7. Skin changes, including lumps, swelling, sores, or infections that won’t heal; scaly or red patches; bleeding; or wounds that seem to have come out of nowhere and are not closing up. Feline cancers often take hold on the skin or at least play out there. Do not dismiss changes on your cat’s coat as harmless dermatological issues.
8. Ongoing GI upset. If your cat has a bout of vomiting or diarrhea that then resolves, it’s not something to get too concerned about. But feline cancer frequently develops in the gastrointestinal tract. That’s why, if your pet has vomiting, diarrhea, or a poor appetite that doesn’t go away, you should take her in. Granted, there are a variety of illnesses that can be responsible for these non-specific GI symptoms. But cancer is sometimes the cause.
9. Loss of energy/loss of weight. A cat may be off her game for all kinds of reasons that have nothing to do with a life-threatening disease. But if your pet has had obvious lethargy that just isn’t turning itself around or has been losing weight without any effort on your part to trim her down, she should see the doctor to determine what’s going on.
10. Changes in breathing. You don’t need us to tell you that if your cat is having difficulty taking in air, you need to get her to the doctor. But do be prepared for the possibility of a cancer diagnosis. Some cancers cause fluid or inflammation in or around the lungs, which creates respiratory difficulties. It’s not always lung or heart disease.
11. Abnormal discharge. Abnormal discharge from any part of the body can sometimes be a sign of cancer. So can bad breath, difficulty urinating or defecating, and even sudden lameness. None of these signs suggest cancer automatically, but sometimes a malignant tumor is responsible for the untoward change.
