Lymphoma is one of the most common cancers in cats, with highly variable prognosis depending on form and location. Welfare considerations during diagnosis, treatment, and end-of-life care are central to compassionate management.
Feline lymphoma welfare depends heavily on tumour type. Cats with small cell lymphoma often maintain excellent quality of life on oral medication for years, with minimal side effects. High-grade lymphoma and mediastinal forms cause significant distress - respiratory difficulty, severe weight loss, and progressive weakness. Chemotherapy side effects in cats are generally milder than in humans, but nausea, reduced appetite, and lethargy can occur. Regular quality of life assessment helps owners recognise when treatment burden outweighs benefit. Supportive care including appetite stimulants, anti-nausea medication, and high-quality nutrition are central to maintaining wellbeing throughout the disease course.