Bladder Cancer in Cats

Types of Bladder Cancers in Cats

There are a few different types of cancer cats can be diagnosed with, the most popular of which being transitional cell carcinomas. All the following cancers may benefit from using CBD oil alongside their treatment.

We'll talk about that in more detail shortly, but the less common types of bladder cancers stem from bladder tumors. When tumors appear in the urinary tract of cats, the cells that line the urinary tract are affected.

 

Transitional Cell Carcinomas 

Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) is a prevalent type of bladder cancer in cats, and more cats get diagnosed with transitional cell carcinoma than other types of bladder cancer every year. Transitional cell carcinoma can be thought of like a very intense version of all that we've explained thus far.

TCC always manifests as a tumor in the urinary tract system of cats, often embedding itself within the bladder wall of felines. Like cancer, transitional cell carcinoma has the potential to spread to other parts of the body, including lymph nodes and other organs that are nearby.

Symptoms of Bladder Cancer in Cats

The majority of clinical signs denoting a cat that has bladder cancer are going to relate to the urination process. Most cats will start to exhibit odd behavior as it pertains to using the litter box. Some cats might express an inability to urinate as well. From using the bathroom more frequently than usual to rarely making it to the litter box in time to urinate, pay close attention to your cat's bathroom habits. More specific symptoms of Bladder Cancer include:

How Bladder Cancer is Diagnosed

Urinary Bladder cancer in cats is diagnosed in a few distinct ways. Usually, it is discovered after pet owners mention their cats have been acting quite unusually. At that point, the cats are taken in to see their veterinarians, and the vets perform a variety of tests to figure out the cause of the cat's change in behavior.

Odd behavior is one of many clinical signs of a cat with bladder cancer. Vets have other clinical signs that they keep an eye out for. Still, to receive a definitive diagnosis, veterinarians must conduct specific tests that accurately pinpoint bladder cancer as the culprit.

To fully understand the cause of your pet's discomfort, blood work must be done, as well as an X-ray and sometimes even a CT scan to top it all off. The medical professionals trained in understanding cat behavior will likely perform urine tests as well because it's essential that they determine whether the circumstances are the result of urinary bladder cancer or a urinary tract infection. Symptoms can manifest very similarly for these two very different situations, so diagnosing cats is a test-intensive process.

How to Treat Cats with Bladder Cancer

Unfortunately, urinary bladder cancer is a diagnosis that carries a low life expectancy rate once the cancerous cells are spotted. Without treatments, cats are likely to live around five months, on average. Whereas diagnosed and treated cats are looking at a lifespan of closer to a year. When your cat is diagnosed with bladder cancer, these statements can be very upsetting to hear.

Thankfully, there are a few treatment options for cats. And with the right treatment, cats with bladder cancer can go on to survive for upwards of a year after receiving their diagnosis. Of course, we all wish that our pets could live forever, but when urinary bladder cancer enters the picture, the goal is to keep your cat as comfortable as possible.

The main goal is figuring out how to rid your cat's bladder of cancerous cells. To be cancer-free, professionals need to zero in on ways to take out as many cancer cells from the bladder as possible. Two options involve directly tackling the cause of bladder cancer, which is the cancerous cells themselves.

Surgical Removal of Bladder Tumors

The main option is to perform surgery to remove the cancerous bladder tumors along the bladder wall of your cat. Surgical removal is used on a case-by-case basis, so it's hard to say if your cat will need to go under anesthesia and endure surgery. The decision to surgically remove the cancer is less likely to be made for elderly cats and incredibly young kittens alike because the operation is risky for cats at both ends of the age spectrum.

Chemotherapy and Radiation for Feline Bladder Cancer 

Sometimes, vets will notice that the lymph nodes of cats have become infected by the cancerous cells. This is a significant discovery to make because it means the cancer is spreading from the urinary tract to the surrounding lymph nodes, which will signal to the vets that the situation is in dire need of immediate treatment. If your vet notices inflamed lymph nodes, chemotherapy might be considered as well.

Radiation therapy is often introduced as a treatment option for cats of all ages and severities. Radiation therapy relies on literal radiation to eliminate the cancerous cells as well as prevent other cancer cells from growing.

Urinary Catheters for Cats with Bladder Cancer

Treatment options for cats with urinary bladder cancer also include the introduction of a urinary catheter, though catheters are more supplemental than anything. For cats, a urinary catheter is the best choice when the natural flow of urine is obstructed. However, it can be used for treatment in cats that are having any unnatural urination patterns. If a urinary catheter is part of the chosen treatment plan, a professional will attach a catheter to your cat's bladder.

From there, the urine is redirected into a container known as a drainage bag. The goal is to allow for the removal of urine even when the cat's body isn't operating in the ways it is intended to function. Long story short, catheters for feline bladder cancer allow the bladder to be emptied when it otherwise cannot be, and this can alleviate a lot of the tension cats feel as a result of their condition.

The kidneys tend to be the primary organ that is pressed down upon, seeing as the urine remains inside of the kidneys if the bladder is not accessible. Additionally, catheters are helpful in situations where obstruction of the bladder isn't the main contributing factor. Sometimes, cats cannot control when or where they urinate, so catheters take that difficulty away by collecting the urine whenever it begins to flow through the bladder.

NSAIDs for Cats with Bladder Cancer

Some cats are even prescribed oral medication to get their condition under control. The most effective medicine for cats with urinary bladder cancer tends to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs for short.

They minimize the internal inflammation that Transitional cell carcinoma causes, but it's important that cats not be on a lifelong prescription of NSAIDs. The reason behind this cautionary statement is that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can cause imbalances to occur after a while.

Always ask your veterinarian for their advice on the right method of treatment for your cat with bladder cancer, and keep up with regular vet appointments to ensure that everything is going well during the treatment period.

Sources:

Urinary Obstruction in Male Cats
Transitional Cell Carcinoma in Dogs and Cats
Urinary Tract Tumors