Has my cat Mags got eye melanoma / eye melanosis :( (WITH PICTURES)

[magsandrue48]

Hey, by way of introduction this is Mags & Rue! (Both 10month old sisters) We have been using this site back and forth for its limitless knowledge.

Unfortunately, we have noticed a little brown/black freckle in an eye. We weren't too concerned to start with but it may appear to have gotten darker, and a bit bigger over the 4 months. I had taken her to the vets yesterday, and the lady said to monitor it with photo's. It was then I showed her some photos and she will now refer us to eye specialist.
She said its not raised or anything, but was concerned how it had suddenly manifested itself in 4months after I showed the photos, she hadn't seen it in younger cats before when I told her she was only 10months.

Even as a fully grown man, it has really gotten to me, as she means the world to me.

Have stumbled across this forum, and spent the best few days high and low on the internet, so was wondering if anyone has any advice, or similar things. I have read lots of posts and other pages.

I have attached some photo's from how it started as nothing 4 months ago to now. (Sometimes it appears darker / lighter depending on light)

Lastly here's a photo I had just taken.

Most importantly, Thank you in advance. I know how a simple post like this can be great for others in the same boat.

Kindest regards

Shaun

 

[LTS3]

I'd get the cat to a veterinary ophthalmologist sooner than later. Many vets, especially specialists, are booked weeks ahead of time these days. If the opthalmologist says the eye issue is nothing to worry about, great If it's something more serious, hopefully it was caught in time and is treatable.

 

[magsandrue48]

Thank you for the quick reply. We are giving them a call first thing tomorrow to book in.

 

[fionasmom]

Welcome to The Cat Site! Mags is a beautiful little baby. Melanosis is not melanoma, but is a risk factor for it. Risk does not mean guarantee that it will happen though, so try to relax. However, getting Mags to a veterinary ophthalmologist is the best course of action. Along with finding out what is going on and if anything needs to be done, you will also find that a specialist will immediately hone in on the diagnosis as that is their field. It saves you and Mags time and money, in the long run, at the vets. Definitely schedule the appointment. Keep taking picture of the spot and if it suddenly changes greatly, call the specialist and ask for an updated appointment.

Let us know what you find out.

 

[magsandrue48]

Thank you again! I will keep this updated for everyone.

 

[magsandrue48]

She's booked in for this coming Wednesday (5 days time), they asked for photo's in advance. I'm convinced at minimum they will take the eye, from what I've read. Just hoping its not spread or spread from something to the eye. We have asked for x-rays blood tests etc whatever's needed be done too. Fingers & paws crossed.

 

[fionasmom]

You are doing the right thing to get her in. Just wait to speak to the specialist and proceed from there. If her eye is removed, she will be fine. Animals can adjust perfectly with one eye. You don't know that this has originated elsewhere, so don't dwell on that. In humans, a small eye melanoma is often watched carefully by the doctor at first as opposed to actively treating it. I am not saying that a vet may want to take that approach, but if this is melanoma you seem to have reacted to it quickly.

Please let us know what you are told.

 

[magsandrue48]

Hopefully of some help,

Just got back from the eye specialist. He was extremely helpful and thorough and used 5 different optical instruments including eye dye and a UV lamp at the end.

Fortunately at this stage he thinks its eye melanosis, which is flat and not raised which would be melanoma.
There is no swelling the eye or causing discomfort, no cloudiness, no redness, no increased eye size (they used a gun like instrument to tap on the eyeball very fast) and he checked both eyes, checked reaction times etc of both.
He even left the room for 10 mins to get her to calm down when a big dog was barking in the reception. Then he repeated some of the tests when he was back to confirm.

He said although he again has never seen it in such a young cat they are usually older (he then did say about how kids unfortunately still get cancer so to not rule it out completely down the line). He also had taken a picture for the next check up.

He then explained using a diagram of where it is and how a cats eye worked. Unfortunately cats eyes they cant remove cancer from as they are very complex. Whereas a dog can have cancer removed (he then went on to say that its never recommended though due to implications and causing dogs long periods of discomfort and not to mention a very expensive procedure which might not remove all of it anyway).


However we have scheduled another check up in 2 months time, for which is will assess again.

He said they can do a biopsy but again its a very fine needle into the eyeball, and only microscopic cells left on the needle are tested, its not a large sample like cutting a chunk of flesh from a animal. He said such a small amount of cells on the needle can come back inconclusive or a false negative, where actually the needle has failed to take a sample. He said its not a 100% conclusive result and can cause a cat discomfort after as the eyeball has been perforated.
Two examples he said stuck out:

• A cat had a similar issue and the owners opted to have the eye removed as recommended. Unfortunately when the eye was sent away to be examined after, it turned out the eye didn't have cancer and was just (melanosis), so the cat didn't need the eye to be removed. But you are going on the best advice available at the time, which could have saved the cats life down the line.
• Another cat came in he saw the raised cells, and some eye irritation, he said to not even bother having the eye biopsy preformed as it would have been an unneeded step, and advised to have the eye removed ASAP, knowing it was cancer from his experience.

He made it clear that unless using optical equipment its impossible to accurately diagnose it being raised or flat, so please if in doubt, go and get them checked.

I wanted to write up as detailed response as possible so this can be found from people on here or via Google who find themselves in the same position, as I know some threads don't have follow ups.

For anyone wondering we used a company called Optivet (England) and this cost us £240 .....($314 USD converted)


Thanks!


Here's a recent picture of the eye from 4.4.2022

 

[fionasmom]

Two things....thank you for your very detailed update which will be helpful to others in the future and it seems as if you have an excellent vet dealing with your baby.

My GSD lost a leg to melanoma, no chance of a clean margin, so I am following the points your vet is making. As far as what I was told/learned during this experience, his information is really correct. Yes, there is that "take a chance" gray area which is bothersome. My dog lived to be extremely old and did not pass away from metastasized melanoma, so certainly there can be a good resolution to this even if you did opt to remove the eye.

Definitely keep up all appointments, even if the spot does not look different to you. Keep us posted as to how this unfolds.