Mammary cancer occurs much less frequently in cats than dogs,
but when it does occur, it is often malignant and difficult to
treat. Mammary cancer is the third most common cancer in cats.
Mammary cancer is likely to strike 1 in 4,000 cats. While this
is about half the rate as in dogs, when cats develop mammary
cancer it is often fatal. There is a strong correlation between
early spaying and a reduced incidence of the disease. If mammary
cancer is caught early, the treatment is more often successful.
This article will help familiarize the cat owner with appearance
and treatment of this deadly cancer. Which cats are at risk for
developing mammary cancer? Any adult female cat can develop
mammary cancer, but the average age is usually 10-14 years of
age. Siamese cats appear to have a genetic predisposition for
developing mammary cancer and are twice as likely to develop it
as other breeds. Unspayed females are at a much greater risk of
developing mammary cancer. Female cats that were spayed after
having one to se