What it is
Lymphocytes travel with the blood and lymph all over the body, and they gather in large numbers in the lymph nodes and the wall of the gut. In lymphoma some of these cells start to multiply out of control, build up in the tissues and disrupt the work of the organs.
The signs depend on where the disease starts: when the gut is affected, a cat slowly loses weight and digests poorly; when the chest is affected, breathing gets harder. In some cases lymphoma is linked to the feline leukaemia virus, but it also appears in cats that do not carry the virus.
At first the changes can be small and slow, so they are easy to put down to age or fussiness about food. Weighing your cat regularly at home helps you notice in time that something is wrong.
Signs you may notice
- Weight loss
- Poorer appetite
- Vomiting or diarrhoea
- Listlessness
- Enlarged lymph nodes
- Laboured breathing
A cat loses weight, eats less, vomits or has diarrhoea, and becomes listless. Sometimes enlarged lymph nodes can be felt under the skin, or breathing becomes harder.
When to see a vet
Book a visit if your cat loses weight for no clear reason, eats less, or keeps vomiting or having diarrhoea. If it breathes with difficulty or with an open mouth, a vet is needed immediately.
This is general information, not veterinary advice. For your own cat's health, tests and treatment, see a vet.