Your cat isn't just a furry friend; your cat is a precious member of your family. When a feline is diagnosed with cancer, it can be devastating. Did you know that over 6 million cats are diagnosed with cancer every year? Cancers cells, like lymphoma, can be dealt with if caught early, giving our feline friends high quality, longer lives.
Felines that have feline leukemia virus (FeLV) have a 33% possibility of developing cancer. Fortunately, fewer cats have FeLV as more are being kept purely indoors, thus limiting exposure to this transmittable virus. Would you know if your cat has feline cancer? Many cat owners do not, and we are here to help.
Cat Risk Factors
Unlike dogs, cats often hide their clinical symptoms if they feel unwell, which can make it more challenging to know about health conditions in a cat. Surprisingly, risks factors for cancer in felines are comparable to those in human beings. Direct exposure to cigarette smoke, asbestos, long-term exposure to sunlight, and lack of exercise has frequently been connected to heightened dangers of cancer cells growth in cats and people. Keeping your cat indoors will significantly help in keeping your cat healthy and living longer lives. Indoor cats have an average lifespan of virtually three times more than that exterior cats.
6 Common Types Of Cancer in Cats
Regretfully, one in five felines gets cancer. Lymphoma, squamous cell cancer, mast cell tumor, and bone cancer cells are all common in cats.
While a cancer diagnosis is mentally terrible, some cancers are treatable if discovered early. This is one reason why your cats have to have regular visits to the vet. Cat cancer signs can be refined, and as I said earlier, cats are good at hiding diseases.
One common symptom of cat cancer is "swellings and bumps." Unusual lumps that change size can be an indication of cancer. Now you may wonder what triggers cancer in pet cats. Experts believe there is a range of possibilities, like sun exposure and FeLV. Let us take a peek at four common types.
Pole cell tumors: Pole cells are leukocytes. Sometimes, they can become tumors, which are irregular swellings. They might be benign or malignant--in many cases, they are harmless. The only way that you can be sure without a doubt is to consult with your vet. The cause for this type of cancer isn't known, though we know that there are higher occurrences in Siamese cats.
Lymphoma: As you might know, lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that develops in lymph nodes, causing them to swell. The lymphatic system is responsible for keeping the flow of different fluids throughout the body, which consists of cleansing toxins and white blood cells, which may mean that cancerous cells can be flowing throughout your pet's body. Professionals think one way cats get lymphoma is with exposure to the Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV). Fortunately, vaccines for Feline Leukemia Infection are a great help in reducing this risk. This cancer type is also very receptive to radiation treatment, and 90% of cats develop no adverse effects from such treatment.
Squamous cell carcinoma: Squamous cells are the cells that are present in your pet's skin. When you take a look at them closely, they have small fish-scale-like lines in their skin. These cells also line the interior passages of the digestive and respiratory tracts. These cells can develop cancer in your feline's mouth or on her body. Oral cancer is generally seen in older felines; 90% of these are squamous cell cancers. Cats commonly have decreased appetite, smelly breath, drooling, and having some trouble eating if they have an oral tumor. Professionals relate it to direct exposure to secondhand smoke. If your cat develops sores on their skin that won't recover, that can indicate skin cancer. This may be a form of squamous cell cancer. If this happens, have a vet visit with your cat for an evaluation.
Bone Cancer: The signs of this type of cancer include lameness, swelling, and sleepiness. It is relatively unusual; however, it often tends to be hostile. This kind of cancer cells in felines can impact the arm or legs, back, head, hips, or any bone in the feline skeletal system. These tumors can be primary (such as singular tumor within the bone, like osteosarcoma), diffuse, or infected an adjacent site, like multiple myeloma of the bone marrow or metastatic lesions from a far-off lump site. Thankfully, primary bone growths are uncommon in cats. Though osteosarcoma is also the most typical bone tumor in felines, the behavior of this cancer is less hostile in cats than in dogs canines. Present evidence does not show potential risk factors in felines developing this kind of cancer, though we know it's more common in big breeds of cats.
Mammary tumors: This is another type of cancer in felines; luckily, spaying can frequently stop this type. Cats spayed before six months old are seven times less likely to develop mammary tumors than cats spayed after six months old.
Brain tumor: This type of cancer, also known as meningioma, is more common in male cats than female ones. Meningiomas are the primary brain growths and represent 56-69% of all brain tumors in cats and are commonly slow-growing in pet cats. Other critical brain tumors consist of pituitary growths, gliomas, ependymoma, choroid plexus papilloma, medulloblastoma, olfactory neuroblastoma, as well as gangliocytoma. Clinical indicators can be psychological monotony, seizures, walking in circles, or having difficulty walking. Radiation therapy has a great chance of minimizing these sores for a good 1-2+ years.
Symptoms of Cancer in Felines
As a cat owner, one should always be watchful of any cat's physical look and behavior changes. Not all cancer warning signs are apparent, with some changes taking over a longer period.
If you have the following symptoms in your cat, contact your veterinary oncologist to check them out ASAP. Depending on what type of cancer your cat has and its severity, your cat's health can change quickly, so it's always best to get them examined. When in doubt, get checked.
- Bigger or changing lumps and bumps.
- Sores that do not heal.
- Persistent weight reduction or weight gain.
- Modification and loss of appetite.
- Relentless coughing.
- Persistent lameness or rigidity.
- Foul odor from the mouth.
- Trouble breathing, eating or swallowing
- Difficulty urinating or excreting.
- Bleeding or discharge from any opening.
- Sleepiness and lethargy.
Routine health checkups will allow your veterinarian the possibility to detect signs of cancer early. Similar to our health and wellness, wellness examinations can help capture prospective troubles early--occasionally with lifesaving results. The same sort of swelling and bump check can also be a lifesaving regimen for our felines.
You may read this listing of signs and think that they coincide with many other health issues. You are right; they are. Observable signs of cancer in cats can be subtle. Your best course of action for prevention is a healthy way of living and regular checkups for your feline. It's recommended that you go through these routine checkups twice every year for cats eight and older.
Thankfully, for all the unknowns in cat cancer, we do understand more about cancer in pet cats now more than ever. And as a result of this, you now have many treatment options and alternatives when seeking cat cancer treatment.
