Oral squamous cell carcinoma is the most common feline oral tumour and carries a poor prognosis. Palliative care focuses on pain control and maintaining food intake.
Cats with oral SCC experience significant and progressive oral pain that owners frequently miss initially, interpreting reduced appetite as general decline. Recognising pain early and instituting multimodal analgesia is the most important welfare intervention. Oesophagostomy or PEG tube placement allows continued nutritional support when eating becomes too painful or structurally impossible, enabling owners to maintain their cat comfort while considering prognosis. Clear quality-of-life monitoring with regular owner check-ins guides appropriate timing of euthanasia.