🐱 Cat Pain Recognition & Welfare 2025

Overview

Cats are exceptional at concealing pain — a survival strategy from their evolutionary history as both predator and prey. A visibly suffering cat is a vulnerable cat. This means cat pain is chronically underrecognized and undertreated, causing significant preventable suffering. The development of validated feline pain assessment tools is transforming veterinary care and enabling better welfare outcomes for millions of cats.

Feline Grimace Scale

The Feline Grimace Scale (FGS), developed by researchers at the University of Montreal, provides a validated tool for assessing acute pain in cats from facial expressions. Five action units scored 0-2:

• Orbital tightening: Squinting or half-closed eyes indicating pain
• Nose/cheek flattening: Reduced convexity of nose and cheeks
• Ear position: Flattened, rotated outward and backward
• Whisker change: Straighter, more forward or backward than relaxed position
• Head position: Below shoulder height, tense neck

Chronic Pain Recognition

Chronic pain in cats manifests differently from acute pain: behavioral changes (reduced activity, avoiding stairs, reluctance to jump), personality changes (increased irritability or withdrawal), altered grooming (overgrooming painful areas or neglecting coat), and changes in social behavior. Owner education on these subtle signs is essential for detecting chronic pain in time for effective management. NSAIDs, gabapentin, and environmental modification all have evidence bases for feline chronic pain management.