Cancer in Cats | Symptoms and Treatment
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Dr. Pippa Elliott BVMS, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr Pippa Elliott BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in companion animal practice. In 1987 she graduated from the University of Glasgow, with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She works at Blythwood Vets and the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA). Pippa is an advocate of Fear-Free Practice, an animal addict, and a veterinary writer. She is also w...
Veterinarian
UPDATED: Mar 20, 2024
Pet Insurance U receives compensation from the third parties included on this site. This includes payment for clicks from our site to insurance providers’ sites and quote requests generated. Our rankings and reviews are not affected by payments from the insurance companies. The compensation we receive allows the site to be free and regularly updated. Our goal is to review every pet insurance provider, but not all companies are listed on the site.
And many of the companies we review do not pay us anything. We simply rate, compare and review their plan because we feel it will be valuable to you. Our reviews are guaranteed to be unbiased, professional and advertising compensation does not influence rankings.
We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about pet insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything pet insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by pet insurance experts.
UPDATED: Mar 20, 2024
Pet Insurance U receives compensation from the third parties included on this site. This includes payment for clicks from our site to insurance providers’ sites and quote requests generated. Our rankings and reviews are not affected by payments from the insurance companies. The compensation we receive allows the site to be free and regularly updated. Our goal is to review every pet insurance provider, but not all companies are listed on the site.
And many of the companies we review do not pay us anything. We simply rate, compare and review their plan because we feel it will be valuable to you. Our reviews are guaranteed to be unbiased, professional and advertising compensation does not influence rankings.
On This Page
It’s the diagnosis that no pet parent wants to ever hear. That your cat has cancer.
While the news is heartbreaking, cancer in cats is becoming more common as our cats are living longer.
While cancer usually occurs in older cats, around 12 years old, it can affect cats of all ages, even those that are younger.
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Cat Cancer
Cancer is more common in dogs than cats, but there are still a fair amount of cats who are affected.
With cats it harder to detect cancer, since cats are known to mask their illness.
This is why when anything unusual occurs with your cat, it’s important to go see your vet.
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Common Types Of Cancer In Cats
Cats commonly get certain types of cancer:
- Mammary Cancer: Breast cancer
- Skin Cancer: Lumps and bumps on the cat’s body
- Lymphoma: usually occurs in the intestine
Lymphoma is the most common of the 3 types and is usually a result of the Feline Leukemia Virus (FelV).
Related: 10 Things You Must Know Before You Buy Pet Insurance
Cat Cancer Symptoms
Not every cat will have the same symptoms when developing cancer, but the most common symptoms are the following:
- Frequent Vomiting
- Small lumps on the cat’s body
- Diarrhea
- Changes in appetite
- Weight loss
- Limping
- Digestive issues
Of course, any of these symptoms can be indicative of another disease, such as diabetes in cats.
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Artemis was a beautiful and friendly cat to all who were willing to pet him. Unfortunately, he developed feline diabetes which required regular vet visits and medications that his Mother could not otherwise afford on her fixed income. Having PetFirst insurance, she called and discussed the problem with a friendly PetFirst agent. To her surprise, she found out that Artemis’ ongoing required vet visits and medication would be covered by his PetFirst insurance. Artemis was able to live out the rest of his life with proper medical care and medicines thanks to PetFirst insurance.
Causes of Cancer In Cats
While there is not a specific cause of cancer, there are a few factors that can increase the chances of cancer occurring:
- Infection
- Overexposure to Sunlight (occurs more often in outdoor cats)
- FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus)
- FLV (Feline Leukemia Virus)
- Cats that haven’t been spayed
Read more: Does pet insurance cover feline leukemia virus (FeLV)?
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Diagnosis
The earlier the cancer is discovered, the better and more effective the treatment is.
At home, you can always check your cat’s body for any bumps or lumps.
If you find any type of irregularity that is new, always check with your vet.
Your vet will want to do a thorough physical exam and blood work.
Depending on the location of cancer, your vet might schedule an ultrasound of your cat’s abdomen.
Your vet might also check for FLV or FIV to see if that might be the cause.
A biopsy is sometimes conducted, particularly if there is a lump or irregularity on your cat’s body.
Treatment Options For Cats With Cancer
Just as in humans, cancer is treated with surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
Depending on where the cancer is located, a combination of the three treatments might be used.
Surgery
Any lump or bump found is usually removed surgically.
Chemotherapy
The good news is that unlike humans, chemotherapy has very few side effects in cats.
Chemotherapy may be given orally, directly into the tumor and comes in the form of very strong drugs that act to destroy the cancer cells.
Chemotherapy is most often used in cancers such as lymphoma, leukemia or those that metastasized (spread) or are likely to do so.
Radiation
It can be used with or instead of chemotherapy.
Radiation is typically used for brain tumors or nasal tumors.
Radiation is usually administered in 16 to 20 treatment sessions over the course of two months.
In addition, your cat will need to go under anesthesia to make sure they stay still during each course of treatment.
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Cost Of Cancer Treatment
The diagnosis is really hard to hear emotionally and then the cost of treating cancer can certainly add up quickly.
Of course, the cost will differ according to where you live or if you go to see a specialist rather than your regular veterinarian.
The initial diagnosis and testing can run anywhere from $600 to $1,200.
Surgery can cost from $900 to $2,500 depending on the type of surgery performed.
The cost of chemotherapy is usually $2,500 to $3,000 and radiation can cost upwards of $6,000.
And, of course, this is just for a few sessions when the treatment can be ongoing.
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Pet Insurance
If you enroll your cat in pet insurance prior to the cancer being detected, you will be very relieved.
With the costs of continued treatment and management, don’t be surprised if you’re paying anywhere from $10,000 to $25,000.
BUT if you have enrolled in pet insurance, your vet or specialist bill will be reimbursed up to 90%.
Of course, you can’t know if your cat will get cancer, but there are many other common illnesses that cats can develop from kidney disease to diabetes.
And, while you do have to pay the monthly premiums, pet insurance will save you a lot of money in the long run.
Healthy Paws, for example, will help pay for the treatment and specialist care needed for cancer.
Of course, you need to enroll your kitty before any pre-existing conditions occur and the best time for that is when your cat is young.
Management
Depending on the type of cancer, if you catch the disease early enough, you could have many more years left with your beloved cat.
If you haven’t enrolled in pet insurance yet, our top cat insurance companies is a great place to start.
Other articles you may find helpful:
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The Best Pet Insurance By State
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We have worked hard to provide you with all the free resources possible to help give you insight into the best pet insurance for cats, additional cat breeds info, common cat health issues, and a fun look at frequently asked cat questions.
Learn more about common cat health problems:
Arthritis in Cats, Cancer in Cats, Declawing Cats, Diabetes in Cats, Eye Infection in Cats, Hypoallergenic Cats, Hyperthyroidism in Cats, Overweight Cats, Vomiting Cats
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How common is cancer in cats, and at what age does it typically occur?
Cancer in cats is becoming more common, particularly in older cats around 12 years old. However, it can affect cats of all ages, even younger ones.
What are some common types of cancer in cat
Cats commonly get certain types of cancer, with lymphoma being the most common, often a result of the Feline Leukemia Virus (FelV).
How can pet owners detect cancer in their cats, and what are the common symptoms?
Detecting cancer in cats can be challenging, but any unusual occurrence should prompt a visit to the vet. Common symptoms include lumps, bumps, and other irregularities.
Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap pet insurance rates.
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Dr. Pippa Elliott BVMS, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr Pippa Elliott BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in companion animal practice. In 1987 she graduated from the University of Glasgow, with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She works at Blythwood Vets and the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA). Pippa is an advocate of Fear-Free Practice, an animal addict, and a veterinary writer. She is also w...
Veterinarian
We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about pet insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything pet insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by pet insurance experts.