What Your Cat Can Teach Us About Cancer

Scientists have created the first detailed genetic map of cancer in pet cats — and it turns out cat cancers look a lot like human ones. By studying tumor DNA from nearly 500 cats, researchers found many of the same genetic changes that cause cancer in people. This discovery could help doctors develop better treatments for both humans and animals.

Cancer is a major cause of illness and death in cats, but until now, scientists didn’t know much about how it works in them. One researcher said cat cancer genetics used to be a “black box.” To change that, an international team studied about 1,000 genes across 13 different types of feline cancer. They were surprised to find that many of the same genes that drive human cancers also play a role in cats.

This matters because cats live in the same environments we do. They breathe the same air, live in the same homes, and are exposed to many of the same chemicals and pollutants. That means studying cat cancers could help scientists understand how the environment affects cancer risk in people, too.

Cats are also extremely common pets. In the UK, nearly one in four households owns a cat. Even so, most cancer research in pets has focused on dogs, leaving cats largely overlooked until recently.

One especially promising area is breast cancer. Cats often develop a form called triple-negative breast cancer, which is also found in humans and is known to be aggressive and hard to treat. Because cats get this type more often than people do, scientists have more chances to study it and test new ideas for treatment.

Researchers believe this work could lead to better ways to prevent and treat cancer in both species. By learning how cancer develops in cats, scientists may uncover clues about why it starts in humans and how to stop it earlier.

Published in Science, the study highlights an unexpected truth: the family cat curled up on your couch might hold vital clues to curing one of humanity’s deadliest diseases. Sometimes, the future of medicine isn’t in a lab — it’s purring beside us.