While cat cancers aren’t as common as dog cancers, by about half, it still affects a great number of our furry little friends. Because cats tend to mask cat cancer symptoms, this makes them harder to detect in early stages. The end results are later diagnosis, and more difficult and costly treatments. The sad part is, when they are finally diagnosed it tends to be more aggressive forms of cancer. This is why early detection and treatment are so important.
Common Cat Cancer Symptoms
Cat cancer symptoms can be tricky to identify because they usually hide diseases very well. Cat cancer symptoms that are typically easier to identify are:
- Lumps,bumps and swelling (especially if they get larger or change shape)
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Difficulty breathing
- Refusal or difficulty eating
- Weight Loss
- Rough coat
- Lethargy
- Unusual discharge (bleeding from gums, mouth, nose, etc.)
- Strained urination
Some cats will also hide or isolate themselves from the rest of the family. This is typically a survival mechanism cats used to perform before domestication (hide from predators until they recover).
While one cat cancer symptoms aren’t a definite diagnosis of cancer, it still may be reason to ask your veterinarian if it lasts for more than a few days.
Common Forms of Cat Cancers
Some of the most common cancers found in cats are lymphoma and oral squamous carcinoma. Some of the lesser common cancers are lung cancer, brain cancer, nasal cancer, liver cancer, and breast cancer.
Cat Cancer Symptoms Conclusion
No one likes to think about their cute kitty ever getting cancer but ignoring the symptoms won’t help anyone. The best weapon you have against cancer is to know and identify cat cancer symptoms, and then get them to a veterinarian as soon as possible. Cancer treatments are typically more effective when the cancer is caught early.
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