Types Of Cat Tumors

Cat tumors can raise alarm in cat owners. The occurrence of cat tumors could signify feline cancer. Skin cancer is the second most common form of cancer in cats. Cancer of the lymph nodes is the most common form of cat cancer. Not all tumors are cancerous. Tumors as a result of cancer most often occur in senior cats.

The common causes of cat skin cancer are sun damage, hormones, genetic influences, vaccines, thermal injuries, viruses, and immunologic influences. Sunburn can lead to the development of squamous cell carcinoma in cats. The feline leukemia virus (FeLV) has been associated with the development of cat cancer.

Tumors that are benign, or noncancerous, are usually slow to develop. They may grow slowly over weeks or even years. Cancerous tumors in cats often develop more abruptly. A cat owner should not try to determine whether or not a cat tumor is cancerous. A cat with a tumor should be examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible. If the cat tumor is cancerous, the treatment is likely to be more effective if it is started early. Therefore, early detection and treatment is very important.

One type of cancerous tumors in cats is the mast cell tumor. Siamese cats are most prone to mast cell tumors. About twenty percent of skin tumors in cats are mast cell tumors. Mast cell tumors in cats usually appear as firm, raised bumps that are hairless. Mast cell tumors are often removed surgically.

Squamous cell carcinoma accounts for about fifteen percent of cat skin tumors. They are most commonly caused by sunburns. White and light cats are at the greatest risk for squamous cell carcinoma. Sebaceous gland tumors account for two to four percent of skin tumors in cats.

Twenty-four to thirty-three percent of cat tumors are neoplasts. Not all neoplasts are cancerous. About twenty-five percent of them are benign. Neoplasts can range from being soft and pliable to extremely firm. They are most common in senior cats. The development of some neoplast tumors may be linked to vaccines. The connection has not been established by research, though some skin tumors tend to occur at the site of rabies vaccines. One problem with linking vaccines as the cause is that the tumors may develop months or even years after the vaccine was administered.