Senior Cat Cancer Statistics?

[wombat]

Does anyone know how common cancer is in senior cats?

To start off, I must admit that I have some *pretty severe* anxiety issues, for which I'm on medication for. Sometimes it stops me from enjoying my cat (estimated to be 11 years old) the way I should because I get so worried about his health! I learned about oral squamous cell carcinoma when I was googling about dental issues, and now this is my #1 fear, especially because it's impossible to examine his mouth because he just won't let me!
Does anyone know how common oral squamous cell carcinoma is, especially senior cats?

 

[Daisy6]

I feel your pain. I also have to take pills for anxiety and still cannot stop worrying. But I would not worry about cancer unless the vet wants to look for it on a test or obvious symptoms occur.

 

[silkenpaw]

I don’t know the answer to your question. But I do know how you feel. I just had to euthanize a cat with intestinal lymphoma and my favorite kitty just had a second surgery to remove squamous cell carcinoma from her chin and might also have SCC in a place where it really can’t be removed.

However, objectively speaking, cancer is rare. Doctors and vets see a lot of it because those are the patients that require the most care, but it really isn’t common. Also, whether or not your cat will get cancer is something you can’t change. So you might as well love and enjoy him while he is around! And let him enjoy you!

Do take care of yourself. Your cat needs you! Sending comforting hugs your way.

 

[wombat]

Thank you! Sending comforting hugs your way too!

I don’t know the answer to your question. But I do know how you feel. I just had to euthanize a cat with intestinal lymphoma and my favorite kitty just had a second surgery to remove squamous cell carcinoma from her chin and might also have SCC in a place where it really can’t be removed.

However, objectively speaking, cancer is rare. Doctors and vets see a lot of it because those are the patients that require the most care, but it really isn’t common. Also, whether or not your cat will get cancer is something you can’t change. So you might as well love and enjoy him while he is around! And let him enjoy you!

Do take care of yourself. Your cat needs you! Sending comforting hugs your way.

 

[silkenpaw]

Thank you! The nice thing about this site is that people understand how much we love our cats

 

[theflash82]

Do you go for monthly vet checkups? That might help since the vets will most likely catch anything like that.

 

[1CatOverTheLine]

.
W wombat - Anecdotally: I've had just about an hundred cats in the past sixty years, and have lost one - and not a "senior cat" - to Cancer. Statistically, it's roughly one-half the Cancer rate in canines (some sources cite an even lower percentage).
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[Daisy6]

Thank you! The nice thing about this site is that people understand how much we love our cats.

Of course we do. It is because TCS has so many members none of them are alone with their cat care struggles and we all love cats.