Although cancer studies have been carried out extensively in dogs, cats have remained unexplored, until now – with the recent first detailed genetic map of cancer in pet cats revealing striking similarities with human versions of the disease, possibly helping to find new ways of treating cancers in both, according to scientists.
BBC News reports that an international team, led by the Wellcome Sanger Institute in Cambridge, analysed tumour DNA from almost 500 domestic cats, uncovering key genetic mutations linked with the condition.
Cancer is one of the main causes of illness and death in cats, however, very little is known about how it develops.
“Cat cancer genetics has totally been a black box up until now,” said lead researcher Dr Louise Van Der Wayden. “The more we can understand about cancer in any species has got to be beneficial for everybody.”
Examining around 1 000 genes linked to 13 types of feline cancer, they found that many of the genes driving cat cancers are mirrored in humans, suggesting the two species share key biological processes that allow tumours to grow and spread.
The household cat could hold the key to understanding certain types of breast cancer, such as triple negative breast cancer, noted the scientists.
Around 15 out of 100 breast cancers are of this type, which cats develop more often than humans, giving scientists access to samples and offering clues to new medicines that might help in treatment.
The team added that both dogs and cats could give clues to environmental factors involved in some types of cancer. They share the same spaces as us, meaning that they are also exposed to the same environmental factors that we are.
“This can help us understand more about why cancer develops in cats and humans, how the world around us influences cancer risk, and possibly find new ways to prevent and treat it,” said Prof Geoffrey Wood of the Ontario Veterinary College, Canada.
The research was published in the journal Science.
Study details
The oncogenome of the domestic cat
Bailey Francis, Latasha Ludwig, Chang He, Louise Van Der Weyden et al.
Published in Science on 19 February 2026-02-20
Abstract
Cancer is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in domestic cats. Because the mutational landscape of domestic cat tumours remains uncharacterised, we performed targeted sequencing of 493 feline tumour–normal tissue pairs from 13 tumour types, focusing on the feline orthologs of ~1000 human cancer genes. TP53 was the most frequently mutated gene, and the most recurrent copy number alterations were loss of PTEN or FAS or gain of MYC. By identifying 31 driver genes, mutational signatures, viral sequences, and tumour-predisposing germline variants, our study provides insight into the domestic cat oncogenome. We demonstrate key similarities with the human oncogenome, confirming the cat as a valuable model for comparative studies, and identify potentially actionable mutations, aligning with a “One Medicine” approach.
Science article – The oncogenome of the domestic cat (Open access)
BBC article – Cats may hold clues for human cancer treatment (Open access)
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Clinical trials for drug that successfully treats coronavirus in cats
mRNA cancer jab shows promise for brain cancer treatment – US study