Expert: Jessica - 10/11/2010

Question
I have had 2 cats with gum and jaw cancer - both males.
Thought it odd.  My female who lived to be 21 yrs. old never had such an issue.  One male I got as a kitten from a shelter and the other male (3) yrs. old was a stray.  We loved them so deeply and gave them everything - heard feeding (human consumption) tuna was the problem (they got it periodically as treats), then I heard cigar/cigarette smoke was the culprit. They mostly ate wet food (fancy feast).   I'm afraid to bring anymore cats into our house -- I love them so much - I hope our "love" isn't hurting them.  In doing a little reading about FIV, could they have had that ????  They tested negative.

Answer
Hi Ro,

I'm so sorry to hear of your bad luck.  I understand your reluctance.  It's hard to understand how you could end up with two cases of such similar cancer.

The first thing you must understand is that cats are very prone to cancer.  They die of cancer more than of any other cause, and they are more likely to develop cancer than most other animals.  Unfortunately, becoming a cat owner inherently carries a great risk that we will have to face cancer with our furry friends.  Oral squamous cell carcinomas are one of the most common cancers found in cats, with oral melanomas being less common.

There is no evidence that any kind of tuna causes cancer in cats.  There had once been some concern that the lining of cans of cat food might be carcinogenic.  No studies have ever proven this to be true, but some cat foods have now moved to packaging their foods in packets.

However, cigarette and cigar smoke is carcinogenic.  Cats become second-hand smokers in a number of ways.  They not only inhale the smoke, but smoke clings to their fur.  They groom themselves meticulously, and carcinogens enter their mouths, where it can cause oral cancer or travel through the gastrointestinal tract and cause cancer there.  Sadly, cats do develop oral, gastrointestinal and lung cancer due to second-hand smoke, and due to their tendency toward getting cancer, they can get it from very little exposure.

Regarding the FIV, as long as the kitties tested negative, you can assume they were negative.  The tests are very sensitive, and you are actually much more likely to get a false positive than a false negative.

I think you should feel free to get another cat if you are prepared for the fact that cancer could be part of their future, but I would encourage you to make smoking an outdoor-only habit.

Good luck!

Jessica