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Objective: To determine the presence and predictors of depression and anxiety in pet owners after a diagnosis of cancer in their pets., Design: Cross-sectional study., Setting: A veterinary medical centre specialised in oncology for dogs and cats and two primary veterinary clinics in Japan., Participants: The participants for analysis were 99 owners of a pet with cancer diagnosis received in the past 1-3 weeks and 94 owners of a healthy pet., Main Outcome Measures: Self-reported questionnaires were used to assess depression and anxiety. Depression was assessed using the Center of Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and anxiety was measured by using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Form JYZ., Results: Depression scores were significantly higher in owners of a pet with cancer than owners of a healthy pet, even after adjustment for potential confounders (p<0.001). Within the owners of a pet with cancer, depression was significantly more common in those who were employed than those who were unemployed (p=0.048). State anxiety scores were significantly higher in owners of a pet with cancer than owners of a healthy pet, even after adjustment for potential confounders, including trait-anxiety scores (p<0.001). Furthermore, in owners of a pet with cancer, state anxiety was higher in owners with high trait anxiety (p<0.001) and in owners whose pets had a poor prognosis (p=0.027)., Conclusion: The results indicate that some owners tended to become depressed and anxious after their pets had received a diagnosis of cancer. Employment may be a predictor of depression. High trait anxiety and a pet with a poor prognosis may increase owners' state anxiety. Including the pet in a family genogram and attention to the pet's health condition may be important considerations for family practice., Competing Interests: Competing interests: MM received a lecture fee from the Japan Small Animal Medical Center, MM is an adviser of the Centre for Family Medicine Development practice-based research network, MM received a lecture fee and lecture travel fee from the Centre for Family Medicine Development, MM received a grant from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and MM is a Program Director of the Jikei Clinical Research Program for Primary-care., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2019. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)