Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cats with cancer: where to start.
- Journal:
- Journal of feline medicine and surgery
- Year:
- 2013
- Authors:
- Blackwood, Laura
- Affiliation:
- Small Animal Teaching Hospital · United Kingdom
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Many cats can develop cancer, and sometimes it isn't obvious right away because they might not have a noticeable lump. As cats are living longer and more owners are bringing them to the vet, we're seeing more cases of cancer in these pets. Unfortunately, by the time cats show signs of illness, their tumors can be quite advanced, which makes treatment more challenging. Additionally, many cats get stressed during vet visits, which can affect how their owners decide to proceed with treatment. Overall, this review highlights the need for better understanding and management of cancer in cats, as there isn't as much information available compared to dogs or humans.
Abstract
PRACTICAL RELEVANCE: Many cats develop cancer and may or may not present with an obvious mass lesion. As our feline patients are living longer and their owners are increasingly seeking veterinary care, the apparent incidence and prevalence of cancer is increasing. CLINICAL CHALLENGES: Neoplasia is a differential for many clinical presentations in cats. Often tumours are relatively advanced at the point of presentation, and this can make management difficult. In addition, many cats find clinic visits stressful and this can influence owners' decisions about treatment. AUDIENCE: This review provides an overview of the approach to the feline cancer patient, and is aimed at all veterinary practitioners that see cats. It is intended as a starting point for more detailed discussions in accompanying articles in this special issue on feline oncology. EVIDENCE BASE: There is limited data on most feline tumours compared with tumours in canine or human patients, so a robust evidence base is often lacking.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23603500/