02/25/2026
Cats + chemotherapy 🐾💚
It’s a combo people don’t always expect—but it can be a really good one.
Chemotherapy in cats can look a little different depending on the medication and the week. Sometimes it’s intravenous, sometimes it’s oral, and in sweet Fred’s case, it’s actually both. Some weeks he comes in for injections, and other weeks he receives oral chemotherapy.
The best part?
Fred has absolutely no idea he’s getting a chemotherapy drug.
What he does know is that he went from feeling sick to actually feeling good. And that’s the entire goal. In veterinary oncology, chemotherapy is designed with quality of life front and center—we are not trying to make cats feel awful. We want them comfortable, happy, eating, cuddling, and doing all the things that make them them.
We’re sometimes asked whether, on the weeks when cats receive oral chemotherapy, it could just be given at home. It’s a great question. But just because a medication is oral doesn’t mean it isn’t powerful. These drugs are still chemotherapy, and we need to check bloodwork on the same day they’re given to be sure it’s safe. Once we’ve confirmed that, it makes the most sense to administer it right after in our cancer center.
As you can see here, Fred doesn’t even realize he’s getting a chemotherapy pill—but we take safety very seriously on our end. Chemotherapy medications should always be handled with gloves and protective barriers. Pills should never be crushed or touched directly.
Fred is such a beautiful example of what chemotherapy can do when it’s used thoughtfully:
✨ improve how a cat feels
✨ restore comfort and energy
✨ and help them live their very best life
And honestly? That’s what it’s all about. 💕
