Can cats get skin cancer? ?

I know it sounds like a daft question, but my 3 month old black and white long haired kitten has a dark black mole on the pink part of her nose (so its not hair) and it seems to grow at the same speed as her. Its just at the border between the white haired and the pink skinned part of her nose. At first it was cute and tiny but now its rather big but not protruding a lot, just very noticable.

Do the same "A B C D" rules that apply to humans apply to cats? I.e. if I notice assymmetry, bleeding, colour changes or diammeter greater than 6 mm that means something's wrong? I do NOT want it to be removed right now if its not necessary, it would mean a huge chunk of her tiny pink nose would be missing, making the left nostril huge!

Any advice or tales of your own cats with moles greatly appreciated.

Yes, they can, they do not normally suffer from the effects of the Sun as they have protection from their coats and they do not lay out too much but they can and do still get skin cancer. If you think it is a possibility that your cat has the symptoms take it to the vet immediately, if it proves to be something else at least you are sure. And, yes, the same rules apply.
If you take her to the vet the worst that can happen is that if you are wrong the vet will think you worry too much but if you are right it could save your pets life.
Remember that if you have it removed now as the cat is young in a couple of years all signs of the op could be gone.

Cats can have part pink part black noses - it's pigment in the skin in the way that the cat has black and white fur on the body.
If it isn't raised and is just skin colouration, it's normal and I wouldn't worry. Cats often have black/grey slodges on their pink paw pads as well.
In answer to your question, yes cats can get skin cancer (but unlikely in such a young cat) - they tend to get it on their ears if they are white or ginger and like to sunbathe.

yes there ears are most to get cancer

yeah above all if they are white

Take her to the vet to get it checked.

My dearly departed cat was a long-haired white cat and she got skin cancer on her side. It started off as a smallish black mole but after a few weeks it had grown and spread quite a lot. The vet operated and she made a full recovery.

She had to wear a 'lampshade' to stop her licking the wound and you should have seen the look that my other cat gave her! She stopped in her tracks and the look seemed to say "what on EARTH are you wearing?"

Yes, cats can get skin cancer. Especially if they have pale fur and like to sit in the sun. The ears are especially prone to developing cancer this way. My mum had a cat who had to have her ears removed completely. Look out for crusting and curling of the ears at the tips. Or better yet, if you have a cat with pale ears that likes to sunbathe use a high factor children's sunscreen on them on really hot days to hopefully avoid it ever happening.

What you describe however doesn't sound like this though does it? Your cat will probably need some more injections shortly. Next time you go to the vet simply ask them about the mark on your kitten. It's always best to get the advice of a professional in these situations.

Depending on where it is (it's a little hard to tell exactly from your description) it could just be dirt and nasal residue. This might sound like a stupid question but are you sure it's part of the cat and not just a well attached bit of dirt? My cat gets those all the time. She's long haired too. None of my short haired cats ever had this problem.

Yes they can.

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Scratching Posts
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Veterinarian

Step1Examine your cat's skin monthly, looking for tumors, blemishes, scaly areas or color changes.

Step2Be concerned if you find new growths, or if any existing growths change colors or become larger.

Step3Note any areas that bleed easily or do not heal normally - these may mean trouble.

Step4Groom your cat daily with a fine-tooth comb to help you notice small changes early.

Step5Massage your cat often, feeling for masses or other suspicious areas. Fingers often find things that you will not see because of the hair coat.

Step6Look closely at your cat's eyelids and lips and inside his mouth for irregular areas or color changes. If your cat's nose or ears are white, check them closely for scaly, bumpy or reddened areas.

Step7Report any suspicious findings to your veterinarian.

Tips & Warnings
Orange tabby cats often develop smooth dark spots on their lips and eyelids as they age that are not cancerous.

Chronic infections from cat-fight wounds that will not heal may resemble skin cancer.

Ask your veterinarian for more in-depth information about skin cancer in cats. See "How to Reduce the Risk of Skin Cancer in Cats," under Related eHows.

Skin cancer left untreated may lead to serious consequences or even become inoperable.

This is just a guess --- but to my knowledge, skin cancer takes a long time to develop because the skin has to be exposed to too much sun--- enough to cause cell damage. This usually happens over a long period of time.... in years, not months.

I would assume a 3 month old cat isn't old enough to have been exposed to that much UV radiation.

That being said, when it comes to pets, which are completely dependent on you, I think it is always better to play it safe.

However, since your cat most likely does not have skin cancer, you may want to save some money on vet bills by waiting until your cat has to go in for shots or something else, then simply ask the vet if it looks like anything to be concerned about while you are there.

of course, if it starts bleeding or looking really nasty get your cat in asap

yes and no