About Feline Kidney Tumors

The most common form of feline kidney tumors is renal lymphosarcoma or LSA, and the second most common is renal carcinoma. The most aggressive type of renal tumors in cats is mesenchymal, but it is also the rarest and only seen in five-percent of all cases reported. Recognizing signs can help receive a diagnosis faster.

Recognizing Symptoms and Clinical Signs

Cats suffering from renal tumors have several symptoms that sometimes may seem like other illnesses, which is why having a skilled veterinarian run the tests to confirm a diagnosis is crucial. One of the symptoms you may notice with your cat is that their stomach appears swollen and if you touch it or push on it slightly, it becomes obvious they are in pain. 

In addition, you may notice that your cat is refusing food, yet their stomach looks bigger. Any signs of vomiting are clearly an indication that your cat is feeling unwell. In renal cystadenocarcinomas, there may be skin lesions, which again is never a good sign to see on your cat's skin.

How Your Cat is Diagnosed with Kidney Tumors

Your veterinarian will begin an exam on your cat by taking a urine sample and drawing blood. When cats have any kind of kidney tumor, the urine will normally have excessive amounts of proteins, which is proteinuria. There may or may not be noticeable symptoms within the blood drawn, but the protein in the urine is enough for your veterinarian to order an ultrasound to take closer images of the kidneys, which normally will confirm the diagnosis.

Surgical removal of the tumor(s) may be necessary along with chemotherapy depending on the staging of the tumor. Your veterinarian at this point will go over all your options in order to give your cat the best possible care and prognosis.