Tumors in elderly cats

Author: John Stephens
Date Of Creation: 25 January 2021
Update Date: 4 November 2024
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Is your cat already a certain age and you are worried that he might get cancer? In this article we are going to talk about this matter.

First, it's important for you to know that not all tumors are cancer. There are benign tumors and malignant tumors. With the help of this PeritoAnimal article, you will learn all about tumors in old cats, keep reading!

What is a tumor?

As mentioned above, not all tumors are cancer. We consider a tumor, an increase in the size of a part of the body. If this increase is due to the growth in the number of cells, we call it neoplasm. Neoplasms can be either malignant (called cancer) or benign.


benign neoplasm: has an organized and slow growth. Generally, the limits of the neoplasm are well defined and do not migrate to other parts of the body (metastases).

malignant neoplasm: the so-called cancer. Cells grow very quickly and disorganized. In addition, they have the ability to invade other tissues and other parts of the body, called metastases).

It is very difficult to know what type of tumor it is without doing the proper laboratory tests. Therefore, if you see a tumor in your cat, take it immediately to your veterinarian so that it can be diagnosed if it is a malignant or benign neoplasm and quickly start the treatment.

Cancer in old cats

There are many different types of cancer that can affect older cats (cats over 10 years old). The causes of cancer are also very varied, it all depends on the type of cancer in question. For example, breast cancer is often associated with very high hormone levels, being more common in unneutered females.


Cancer in older cats can affect any part of the body or organ. In this article, we'll focus on the three most common types of cancer in older cats: breast cancer, lymphoma, and squamous cell carcinoma.

cat with breast cancer

Breast tumors are one of the most common tumors in older cats. The average age at which this tumor appears is between 10 and 12 years of age. Breast tumors can be malignant or benign. It is estimated that around 85% of breast tumors are malignant.

Although it is rare, breast cancer can occur in male cats, but it is more common in unneutered female cats. If you notice a cat with belly tumor, it could be breast cancer.

Causes

There is still no certainty about the causes of breast cancer in cats. However, there are some risk factors that we should mention. Some studies indicate that the Siamese breed and short-haired cats are more likely to suffer from mammary gland tumors.


Furthermore, these tumors are much less common in neutered cats. Furthermore, the age of cat neutering can reduce the risk of developing these types of tumors. A study[1]revealed that neutered cats under 6 months of age reduced the risk of developing breast cancer by 91%, neutered cats under 1 year of age reduced the risk by 86%.

Obese cats are also more predisposed to this type of cancer.

Another possible cause of breast cancer is anti-estrus injections. Several studies by experts indicate that giving the pill to cats and giving anti-estrus injections considerably increase the likelihood of developing cancer. Therefore, PeritoAnimal is totally against this type of contraceptive in dogs and cats.

Symptoms

Most of the time these tumors are detected by the veterinarian during consultation when palpating the 10 mammary glands that the cat has. These tumors often go unnoticed by tutors, hence the great importance of regular consultations with your trusted veterinarian. In addition, it may be accompanied by other symptoms such as:

  • Lack of appetite
  • licking the belly excessively
  • prostration and weakness
  • Very reddish area of ​​the tits

If you have an elderly cat losing weight, you should take her to a veterinarian as soon as possible. Anorexia is a clinical sign common to many diseases and it is important to diagnose your cat as soon as possible to start the most appropriate treatment.

Diagnosis

The most common diagnostic methods are cytology and biopsy. In addition, blood tests will help the veterinarian determine what stage of cancer the cat is at.

Your veterinarian may also advise taking an x-ray to rule out lung metastases.

Treatment

The most common treatment is surgery to remove tissue with the presence of a tumor. In some cases, your veterinarian may advise a complete mastectomy (removal of all the mammary glands), especially if there is more than one breast tumor.

Prevention

The best way to prevent breast cancer in cats is to neuter your cat before 6 months of age because as we mentioned, it reduces the chances of getting breast cancer by 91% compared to unneutered cats.

Lymphoma in cats

Lymphoma is one of the most common malignant tumors in cats. About 30% of tumors in cats are lymphomas. Lymphoma is a cancer that affects lymphocytes (white blood cells). These globules are the main warriors of the cat's immune system, that is, its defenders whenever there is an invading bacteria or virus. Lymphocytes travel throughout the cat's body, in the bloodstream to defend against these so-called invaders, so if there is cancer in the lymphocytes, it also spreads throughout the body.

There are three types of lymphoma: the multicenter one mainly affects the cat's lymph nodes. The mediastinal that focuses mainly on the chest cavity and the alimentary lymphoma that mainly affects the gastrointestinal tract.

Causes

Although there are still ongoing studies and not all the causes have been established, it is known that Felv may be involved in the development of lymphoma in cats. As Felv is a retrovirus, it lodges in the DNA and can alter cell growth leading to the formation of neoplasms. Some studies indicate that about 25% of cats with Felv develop lymphoma. However, with the advancement of medicine and the existence of vaccines for Felv, there is less and less lymphoma caused by Felv.

According to some studies, some Oriental and Siamese breeds are more prone to developing lymphoma.

Symptoms

As we've already mentioned, this cancer can affect various parts of the cat's body, the most common being the gastrointestinal tract. The most common symptoms of lymphoma in cats are:

  • Diarrhea
  • vomiting
  • Lack of appetite
  • tiredness and weakness
  • difficulty breathing

As you can see, lymphoma symptoms in cats are very similar to other diseases. Therefore, a visit to the veterinarian is essential for an early diagnosis of this very serious cancer.

In some rarer cases, such as the cat in the photo below, lymphoma affects the oral cavity and causes serious damage.

Diagnosis

The best way to diagnose lymphoma is through X-ray and ultrasound of the chest and abdomen. Through these imaging methods, the veterinarian can see an enlargement of the lymph nodes and changes in organs that help you reach a diagnosis of lymphoma. A biopsy or aspiration cytology of an affected site allows for a definitive diagnosis.

Treatment

Since lymphoma affects an animal's entire body, because lymphocytes travel freely in the bloodstream throughout the animal's body, simple surgery does not solve the problem. If there are tumors or obstructions caused by the disease, surgery may be necessary, but chemotherapy is essential in the treatment of lymphoma.

In addition to chemotherapy, your veterinarian can advise on a specific diet rich in omega 3.

Prevention

The best way to prevent this disease is to have your cats properly vaccinated. However, as mentioned above, lymphoma is not always associated with Felv and there is still no explanation for the appearance of this cancer. Therefore, the best thing you can do as a tutor is to consult your veterinarian regularly to ensure that if anything appears, it is diagnosed quickly.

Read our full article on lymphoma in cats - symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.

Squamous cell carcinoma in cats

Squamous cell carcinoma is one of the most common skin and subcutaneous tissue tumors. Most cats with this type of skin cancer in cats have lesions on the head, nose, ears and eyelids. Sometimes even on the fingers. Although there are cases of this tumor in young cats, the most common is that it appears in cats over 11 years old, I feel a common tumor in older cats.

Causes

Although there is still no certainty as to what causes this type of tumor, it is already known that sunlight contributes to the development of this neoplasm. Some studies also indicate that white cats are more likely to develop this type of tumor. Black and Siamese cats are the least likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms are the injuries we have already mentioned. Plaque-shaped or cauliflower-like ulcers may appear on the nose, ears and eyelids. They usually start out as small lesions and over time they end up ulcerating, worsening the animal's condition.

Although the tumor is locally aggressive (on the animal's face) it does not usually migrate to other locations. Therefore, the cat may have only these lesions, and you see the cats with nose cancer without other associated symptoms.

Diagnosis

The veterinarian needs to do the necessary tests to confirm the diagnosis, since there are other diseases with similar symptoms, such as mast cell tumors, hemangioma, hair follicles or sebaceous gland tumors, etc.

The most common tests are aspiration cytology and tumor mass biopsy. That is, the veterinarian needs to collect some of the tumor and send it for laboratory analysis.

Treatment

There are different treatment options for squamous cell carcinoma. The type of treatment depends on what stage the tumor was diagnosed, the state of the tumor and the state and age of the animal. Each type of treatment has different side effects and you should discuss with your oncology specialist veterinarian what the best option is for your cat's specific case.

The most common treatments for squamous cell carcinoma are:

  • Surgery to remove affected tissue
  • Cryosurgery in cases of more superficial tumors
  • Ionizing radiation
  • Chemotherapy
  • Photodynamic therapy

Prevention

Since there is a large influence of ultraviolet rays and sunlight on the development of this tumor, it is important that you restrict your cat's access to the sun.

The best advice is that the cat should be able to sunbathe only at the beginning and end of the day, especially if it is a cat with a predisposition for this disease, such as whiter cats or with lighter mucous membranes.

If your cat is one of those who most like to do is spend all day at the window, you should ensure that the glass has UV protection.

Cancer in elderly cats - prognosis

Your cat's chances of surviving cancer depend on the type of tumor involved, how early it was detected, and what state the cancer is in.

Most importantly, as soon as you detect a tumor in your elderly cat, visit your trusted veterinarian right away.

Read our full article on how long does a cat with cancer live?

This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Tumors in elderly cats, we recommend that you enter our Other health problems section.