Cat Illnesses - Cancer

Cancer is a general term for a range of cat illnesses that are caused by malignant cell growth. The most common cancers in cats are lymphomas, in which lymphoid tissue spreads abnormally; squamous cell tumours, which are found in the nasal cavities, mouth, ears and skin; and mammary cancer, which affects the breast tissue in female cats.

The symptoms of feline cancer include bleeding from orifices, growths that don't go away, wounds that don't heal, difficulty breathing, difficulty eating, loss of appetite, lethargy and difficulty urinating and defaecating. However, these symptoms can be present in a wide range of cat problems, so it is important to get expert veterinary opinion.

Treatment will vary according to the type of cancer, but is likely to include pain relief and chemotherapy, and may also include surgical removal of a tumour if it has not spread.