Cancer

If you have your female cat spayed at an early age, you will, of course, be preventing her from experiencing motherhood. Nevertheless, youd be wise to have her undergo the procedure, since youll also be dramatically lessening the chances that she will be afflicted with mammary cancer later in her life (not to mention helping to curb feline overpopulation). Indeed, says Margaret McEntee, DVM, an associate professor of oncology at Cornell Universitys College of Veterinary Medicine, having your cat spayed at six months of age will reduce her chances of getting mammary cancer by about 90 percent.

The statistics are sobering: Each year, according to the National Cancer Institute, approximately six million companion cats in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer, and more than half of cats over the age of 10 will die of the dreaded disease. A cure for feline cancer may be just a collar away. Bright orange Pet4Pets charity collars - similar to the popular cancer-awareness wrist bands, la Lance Armstrong - were introduced last spring, with the funds going toward groundbreaking cancer research being funded by the Animal Cancer Foundation (ACF) in Norwalk, Connecticut.

Cats come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and the range of their behavioral characteristics is similarly broad. The same can be said about the array of tumors (neoplasms) that can develop within the feline body. Some are small, others are large; some naturally tend to pass the time quietly ensconced in one spot, while others are destined to roam; some are benign by nature, while others behave very badly indeed, causing no end of damage.

One suggestion on prevention: Give your cat only the vaccines that it really needs. Heres why.

Early diagnosis can sometimes reduce the impact of this widespread disease. Heres what you should know to protect your cat.

Early neutering and an owners vigilance can minimize the potentially lethal threat.

Early neutering is the most effective way to counter this ravaging disease.

Vaccine-associated sarcomas are serious tumors that can be life-threatening. What to look for.

Recognizing the Signs of Cancer Helps Improve the Odds of Successful Treatment

Less Radiation, Fewer Treatments

Those of us entrusted with caring for cats have two basic desires: first, we wish to help cats by preventing serious diseases and death;...

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