Diagnosis of Feline Tumors

Diagnosis begins with a thorough physical examination.  Blood work, radiographs, and ultrasounds are also used in the diagnostic process.  A biopsy or the removal and testing of a small piece of the tumor can be performed to make a determination of whether the tumor is cancerous or non-cancerous.  A fine needle aspirate involves using a long needle to extract cells from the tumor. This is done to test for the presence of cancerous cells.  Ultrasounds also provide a great deal of information and can be an invaluable tool in the diagnosis of feline tumors.

Feline tumors are becoming more prevalent and can vary in appearance and behavior, affecting many parts of a cat’s body.  Mammary tumors are the third most diagnosed tumors in the feline population, resulting in approximately ten per cent of all diagnosed feline tumors.