Treatment of Feline Mammary Tumors

Approximately 90% of feline mammary tumors are malignant and able to spread to other parts of the body.  Mammary tumors are often seen in cats ten years or older that have not been spayed, or were not spayed before they turned one year old.  Mammary tumors can develop in any breed of cat.  Siamese cats seem to have more potential for developing mammary tumors than other cats.  Mammary tumors can spread to the lymph nodes and lungs, therefore, an early diagnosis and initiating a course of action is most beneficial to the cat.

Each tumor needs to be evaluated individually; to make it possible for the veterinarian to be able to prepare a diagnosis, and outline a treatment plan.  The most effective treatment is surgical removal.  If the tumor is benign, surgery will correct the problem.   If the tumor is malignant, radical mastectomy surgery is the recommended course of action.  When both chains of mammary glands are affected, two separate surgeries done approximately four weeks apart are required.