Lymphoma is the most common feline cancer, with treatment options that can extend life but require careful welfare assessment of treatment burden versus quality of life benefit.
Cats with lymphoma require careful welfare assessment throughout their illness and treatment. High-grade lymphoma causes rapid deterioration without treatment, with weight loss, reduced appetite, and progressive weakness. Chemotherapy extends survival but causes side effects including nausea, reduced appetite, and immunosuppression that require monitoring. Treatment visits, blood sampling, and drug administration cause handling stress for many cats. The welfare assessment in feline lymphoma involves balancing treatment-related burden against the improvement in quality of life that successful treatment can bring. End-of-life decision making requires honest assessment of whether treatment is serving the cat's welfare or prolonging decline.