Cat Tumors Aren’t Always Bad News

By definition, a tumor is just a swelling or lump caused by an excessive or abnormal growth of cells.

However, we have come to relate the word to cancer.When you hear the words “your cat has a tumor”, it can make your heart sink! However, somewhere around 25% of cat tumors are actually benign, or harmless.

Cat tumors can not only vary in size, they can vary in consistency, from quite soft, to extremely hard. They can also be quite mobile, or firmly fixed in position. If on the skin, they may also have lost the hair on the lump, and the skin may be red or ulcerated.

While it’s easy to see tumors on the outside of the body, it’s almost impossible to know if your cat has a growth on the internal organs, until it causes illness. Your vet can palpate, or feel, your cats abdomen to check for lumps. Sometimes tumors in the chest cavity can cause abnormal heart and lung sounds, which can be heard through a stethoscope.

Diagnosing the type of cat tumors you’re dealing with involves taking a biopsy. This can be as simple as putting a needle in the lump and sucking out a sample of cells. They’re smeared on a glass slide, stained with dye, and examined under a microscope. Another method of getting a biopsy is to take a plug of tissue with a biopsy punch, or to actually remove the whole lump itself.

When you have a diagnosis, you can formulate a treatment plan. Benign cat tumors are usually cured by surgical removal, however some tumors may be in a difficult spot, or too big to remove completely.

If the tumor is malignant, it’s possible your cat may need chemotherapy or radiation, after surgical removal.

So, if your cat has a tumor, keep your chin up. There’s a good chance it is benign, and if not, these days there are treatment options available.

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Tagged as: Cancer, Cat, Conditions and Diseases, Health, Tumor