{"id":635332,"date":"2024-08-05T04:06:17","date_gmt":"2024-08-05T08:06:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.catster.com\/?p=635332"},"modified":"2024-08-05T04:06:17","modified_gmt":"2024-08-05T08:06:17","slug":"cat-eye-tumors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.catster.com\/ask-the-vet\/cat-eye-tumors\/","title":{"rendered":"Cat Eye Tumors & Cancer: Our Vet Explains the Causes, Signs & Care"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n <\/span>\n \nOverview<\/a>
\nWhat Do Cat Eye Tumors Look Like?<\/a>
\nCauses<\/a>
\nDiagnosis<\/a>
\nCare Guide<\/a>
\nFAQ<\/a>
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Cancer and tumors can affect any part of a cat\u2019s body, even their eyes. Fortunately, eye tumors in cats are uncommon, if not rare. Unfortunately, they tend to be cancerous more often than benign and quite aggressive. Cancers can arise from any and all structures associated with the eye, including the tissues surrounding it, so there are different variations. Here, we examine the most common types of cat eye tumors so you know what they look like, what causes them, and what can be done about them.<\/p>\n

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What Are Cat Eye Tumors?<\/h2>\n

Eye tumors in cats are any abnormal growths in the eyeball itself, on the surface of the eye, or in the surrounding tissues, including the eyelids and conjunctiva. These tumors can have many different versions, depending on where they originate. Most are malignant or cancerous, though, and they tend to grow rapidly and spread to other parts of the body.<\/p>\n

Primary eye tumors pop up directly from the structures in and around the eye. Secondary tumors that have spread from other areas of the body are possible but not as commonly seen. The most common eye tumors in cats are melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and post-traumatic ocular sarcoma.<\/p>\n

Eye cancer tends to show up in one eye but can be seen in cases of secondary tumors that have traveled from other parts of the body. Since eye tumors in cats tend to be so aggressive, it\u2019s important to be able to recognize them as early as possible in order to get treatment underway for the best outcome.<\/p>\n

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What Do Eye Tumors in Cats Look Like?<\/h2>\n

The first thing that you\u2019ll likely see with a cat eye tumor is a kitty with sore eyes. They may rub or squint their eyes due to the discomfort. There may also be a large amount of tearing or discharge. The pain can either be due to irritation to the eyeball, conjunctiva from the tumor itself, or increases in pressure inside the eye brought on by the tumor disrupting the normal fluid cycle.<\/p>\n

Any lumps or spots on the eyelid or conjunctiva tend to be pink or red, rough, and irregularly shaped. They often look like a sore that won\u2019t heal and instead becomes worse. These types of tumors are often squamous cell carcinomas and are more common in white cats and those with a light color around their eyes.<\/p>\n

Tumors within the eye will often show up as dark, irregularly shaped spots that creep across the surface of the eye. These are likely melanoma and will look similar to melanoma on the skin. Tumors within the eye can cause glaucoma, or an increase in pressure that may cause the eyeball to enlarge or even stick out a bit farther than normal.<\/p>\n

Post-traumatic ocular sarcomas typically show up following an injury to the eye or chronic inflammation. In this case, you\u2019ve likely been dealing with an eye issue in your cat already, followed by glaucoma or even a shrinking of the eyeball.<\/p>\n

What Are the Causes of Eye Tumors in Cats?<\/h2>\n

Cat eye tumors are fairly uncommon, but when they do occur, it\u2019s likely the result of a combination of factors, ranging from genetics to the environment. Sun exposure may be linked to squamous cell carcinomas in the eyelids and the surrounding tissues of light-colored cats. UV light may also be linked to melanomas within the eye.<\/p>\n

Post-traumatic ocular sarcomas are tumors that can follow injuries or illnesses of the eye, such as chronic uveitis. These tumors often take several years to present, so you may not even associate the initial issue with the tumor when it finally shows up. There can also be a viral component to some cat eye cancers, with feline leukemia virus being the main culprit, increasing the risk for secondary lymphoma in a cat\u2019s eye.<\/p>\n

The exact cause of feline eye tumors may not be pinpointed in every case, but your vet should be able to diagnose the specific type of tumor that your cat has.<\/p>\n