- Mammary tumors in cats usually result in a mass or multiple masses that can be felt underneath the skin at the belly, says the College of Veterinary Surgeons. The cat's nipples may be red and swollen and may ooze, says the Veterinary Society of Surgical Oncology, and open sores are common.
- More than 85 percent of feline mammary tumors are malignant, says the College of Veterinary Surgeons. The cancer, usually aggressive, often spreads to other areas, including the lymph nodes and lungs.
- No matter how large or small the tumor is, all of the cat's mammary tissue should be surgically removed, says the Veterinary Society of Surgical Oncology. In theory, the society says, chemotherapy may help prevent the cancer's spread, but no studies prove its efficacy.
- Most cats with mammary carcinoma have a poor prognosis, with most dying within a year, says the veterinary society. The larger the tumor, the worse the prognosis. With aggressive surgery, however, some cats have a median survival time of 2.5 years, says the college of surgeons.
- Cats that are spayed before they are six months old are seven times less likely to have a mammary tumor, says the college of surgeons, but spaying at any age reduces the risk by at least 40 percent.
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