Skin Cancer in Cats

Examine your cat's skin on a regular basis. If you note a new lump, a sore that does not heal or other changes in the skin, seek veterinary attention.

If your cat has surgery as part of the treatment of his skin cancer, he may need some additional care. Cats that have had surgery should be kept quiet for the first two weeks to prevent tension on the incision. The incision should be monitored for redness, swelling or discharge. It is important to keep your cat from licking or chewing at the incision because this can cause the incision to come apart. If there are sutures or staples, these will need to be removed approximately two weeks after surgery.

The surgery site should be evaluated on a frequent basis to detect any cancer recurrence. If recurrence is suspected, it should be brought to your veterinarian's attention immediately. Retreatment is more likely to be successful if the tumor is still small.