Mast Cell Tumor Cat Paw. These tumors can be either malignant or benign, and they mostly affect older felines. It also can refer to an accumulation or nodule of mast cells that resembles a tumor.
Mast cell tumors (mct) occur when the mast cells (located primarily in the skin, respiratory, and digestive tract) replicate in higher than normal numbers. Mast cell tumors have a tendency to affect older cats over 10 years of age and are especially prevalent in siamese cat breeds. In the cat, mast cell tumors of the skin are most likely to affect the head and neck.
A tumor consisting of mast cells is called a mastocytoma, or mast cell tumor.
If your cat has the splenic form of the disease, the most commonly observed signs are weight loss, vomiting, and loss of appetite. Mast cell tumors can form nodules or masses in the skin (and other organs), and cause enlargement of the spleen and intestine. Mast cell tumors (mcts) are formed by the abnormal proliferation of mast cells, and when the entire body is affected, the disease is referred to as mastocytosis. Mcts are the most common malignant skin tumours in dogs and up to 20% of skin masses in dogs are mcts.