Cats and Lung Cancer
As a rule, cats don’t smoke cigarettes. However, that doesn’t mean they can’t develop lung cancer. Sadly, while it’s not too common, they do.
Most feline cancers are associated with aging, just like with humans. In cats it can be a silent killer. This is especially true for lung cancer, which frequently occurs in cats 10 years or older. Lymphoma (cancer of the lymph nodes) is the most common cancer in cats but others may also develop in younger cats, like oral cancer, in particular in those who test positive for feline leukemia.
While it is rare in cats, lung cancer is malignant in about 80% of the diagnosed cases. Cats experience two main types of lung cancers: primary tumors, which start in the lungs and stay there, and metastatic, when the cancer begins somewhere else in the body and moves to the lungs. Metastatic lung cancer is more common of the two. Diagnosis of this type of cancer has increased a lot in the past 20 years, maybe because cats are living longer lives, more diagnoses and also because they are exposed to more toxins in their environments.
One very frequent toxin that cats are exposed to is cigarette smoke. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AMVA), cats who live with smokers are more than twice as likely develop malignant lymphoma that cats who live in non-smoking homes. Secondhand smoke isn’t just in the air. Think about this – if someone says you smell like cigarette smoke, it means the smell and the toxins from the cigarettes are on you and your clothes. If it’s in the air and gets on you, it gets on your cat’s fur, too. Every time they groom, they ingest those toxins. The AMVA also states that “the risk increased with the duration and amount of exposure, and cats with five or more years of exposure to secondhand smoke were more than three times as likely to develop malignant lymphoma.”
BCR’s recent arrival, Crystal (pictured above), is one such cat. This senior girl spent her whole life in a household with two smokers. Sadly, it has left her with lung cancer. She is 16 and was diagnosed with it when she arrived at BCR. Due to her age, aggressive treatment really isn’t an option for her. We will make sure her time at BCR is comfortable, happy, stress free and full of love.
What should a cat owner look for in their cat’s behavior that could indicate lung cancer? Because we know cats are experts at masking pain or illness, cat owners need to be vigilant about their pet’s health and, if something seems off or they notice one of these symptoms, get their cat to vet immediately. Signs of lung cancer in cats can include:
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Lethargy
- Labored breathing
- Rapid breathing
- Coughing (which is rare in cats)
A vet will most likely use X-rays diagnose lung cancer. Ultrasounds are also sometimes used. When a diagnosis is confirmed, there are treatments for both types of feline lung cancer in cats. It’s important to know that the survival rate for cats who have lung cancer is not good. How aggressive the vet wants to be with treatment depends his/her assessment of the cat’s age, condition and the extent of the cancer. For metastatic lung cancer, the treatment goal is to keep it from spreading. Many cancers are drug-resistant and some vets my opt for chemotherapy or radiation therapy. If a lung tumor is localized, a vet may choose to remove it surgically.
For older cats with lung cancer like Crystal, palliative care is the best option. Just like with people, keeping this senior girl comfortable and pain free so she can enjoy the life she has now is the most important thing. BCR staff watch her closely, monitor her weight, how much she eats and how she reacts to attention and interactions with them. We’re thankful she is at BCR where she can receive all of those things!
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