Skin Cancer in cats

(Squamous Cell Carcinomas)

Causes

Skin cancer is very common in cats in Australia and is caused by UV (ultraviolet) radiation. Even indoor cats can get skin cancer because of their love for sitting and/or sleeping near windows or on window sills.

Symptoms

It is rare to see skin cancer in cats under 3 years of age, and it usually appears as small scabs on the nose and around the eyes and ears. As the disease progresses, these scabs grow larger and eventually begin to bleed. Bleeding mainly is caused by the cat scratching the sores.

Prevention

This disease is easily preventing by avoiding sunlight, especially in white cats. Though this is easy in theory, in practise it is almost impossible!

Applying UV creams and black felt-tip pen marks to ear tips will help in some cases.

Treatment

There are a number of treatment options

1) Surgical removal of affected areas - usually for ears, requiring amputation of ear tips

2) Cryosurgery - using liquid nitrogen (N_2(liq))  applied to wounds, to freeze the cancer

3) Radiation therapy - Xrays directed at lesions.