Side Effects of Feline Chemotherapy

According to Arnold Plotnick, DVM, cancer in cats is becoming more common, and although it usually occurs between the ages of 2 and 6, any cat is susceptible. Chemotherapy is a common treatment option for certain types of cancer, but it often causes side effects that take a toll on the cat physically and affect its quality of life. When making the decision to use chemotherapy on your cat, you must factor in these potential effects.

  1. Function

    • Chemotherapy uses powerful chemicals to attack abnormal cells. However, it does not target cancer exclusively, so healthy cells are also destroyed. This, combined with the overall toxicity of the chemicals, causes side effects.

    Use

    • The decision to use chemotherapy must be made carefully, to be sure the benefits outweigh the effects. According to Davies Veterinary Specialists, chemotherapy is often very effective on white-blood-cell cancers and multiple myeloma, and works well after surgery for certain kinds of tumors. If a cat has a responsive cancer, and if it is in reasonably good health other than the cancer, the side effects are outweighed by the benefit.

    Administration

    • According to the College of Veterinary Medicine at Illinois, chemotherapy is administered by intravenous injections. Because the chemicals go right into the cat's bloodstream, side effects can occur immediately. They can also happen afterward, as the chemicals kill the cells. The cat may receive chemotherapy for up to 15 weeks, so it is subject to side effects for that entire time and a few months thereafter.

    Types

    • According to Arnold Plotnick, DVM, the most common side effects are vomiting, diarrhea and a decrease in the cat's appetite. Although cats don't usually lose their hair, it is slower to grow back if it is shaved, and the whiskers may fall out. The College of Veterinary Medicine at Illinois says that bone marrow can be damaged, resulting in a greater risk of infection.

    Follow-Up

    • Once chemotherapy is completed, side effects usually stop within a few months, as the chemicals disappear from the cat's system. The veterinarian will monitor the cat every month or two to assess whether the treatment was successful and if the side effects need any symptomatic treatment.