Companion Animal Welfare

Cat Injection Site Sarcoma Welfare

Injection site sarcomas are aggressive tumours associated with vaccination and injection sites in cats requiring early detection and treatment.

Key Facts

Feline injection site sarcoma has an incidence of approximately 1 in 1,000-10,000 vaccinations
Tumours typically develop at vaccine injection sites between the shoulder blades
Aggressive surgical removal with wide margins is the primary treatment approach
Radiation therapy and chemotherapy may extend survival time but prognosis is poor
Non-adjuvanted vaccines are associated with lower sarcoma risk than adjuvanted alternatives

Welfare Considerations

Injection site sarcomas cause significant morbidity and are frequently fatal. Using non-adjuvanted vaccines and rotating injection sites reduces risk. The welfare case for vigilant monitoring of injection sites after vaccination supports early detection and improved outcomes.

What You Can Do

Ask your vet about non-adjuvanted vaccine options to reduce injection site sarcoma risk
Monitor your cat's skin for any lumps developing at injection sites after vaccination
Seek immediate veterinary assessment for any lump at an injection site persisting beyond one month