Are mast cell tumors painful for cats?

Clinical symptoms vary with the location and type of mast cell tumor. Skin tumors may be static, but they also may cause your cat to itch or bite at the affected spot due to histamine release. Some of the masses will periodically increase in size and become quite red due to the degranulation.

Are mast cell tumors in cats always cancerous?

Mast cell tumors can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous) and have varying degrees or ratings. Mast cell tumors have a tendency to affect older cats over 10 years of age and are especially prevalent in Siamese cat breeds. Mast cell tumors are also sometimes referred to as mastocytomas.

What does a mast cell tumor feel like on a cat?

Symptoms of mast cell tumors on the skin include hairless raised bumps or lumps that your cat may or may not itch at depending on his body’s histamine reaction to the tumor. Symptoms of mast cell tumors on internal organs include lethargy, weight loss from decreased appetite, vomiting, and general illness in your pet.

Why do cats get mast cell tumors?

Most seem to be caused by a complex mix of risk factors, some environmental and some genetic or hereditary. A genetic mutation in a protein involved in the replication and division of cells (called KIT) has been well-described in the development of MCTs in dogs. In cats, about 67% of MCTs also have this mutation.

How are mast cell tumors of the spleen treated?

Surgical removal of the spleen is the treatment of choice for mast cell tumors of the spleen. Surgical removal of the spleen along with chemotherapy may be beneficial when mast cells circulating in the blood accompany mast cell tumors of the spleen.

Can a mast cell tumor be removed from a cat?

Well-differentiated, benign, solitary mast cell tumors are cured by surgical removal, even in elderly cats. However, there is a tendency for cats to develop multiple, apparently primary, sequential mast cell tumors, some of which are benign and some not.

What happens if a cat has a spleen tumor?

Kitty can do well without his spleen. Splenic tumors are relatively rare in cats, but do occur. If Kitty suffers a splenic tumor, the good news is that as a splenectomy can increase his survival time.

Can a splenectomy be done on an older cat?

While mast cell tumors located in other parts of Kitty’s body don’t have a great prognosis, if these tumors are located in the spleen a splenectomy can buy a cat a considerable amount of time. Older cats usually suffer from mast cell tumors.