Companion Animal Welfare

Chronic Pain Management in Cats

Cats are stoic animals that often hide chronic pain, leading to underdiagnosis and undertreatment of conditions like osteoarthritis.

Key Facts

Up to 90% of cats over 12 years have radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis
Pain in cats often manifests as behavior changes rather than obvious lameness
Cats metabolize many pain medications differently from dogs and humans
Meloxicam is commonly used but requires careful monitoring
Novel treatments including grapiprant and antibody therapies are expanding options

Welfare Considerations

The stoic nature of cats combined with historically limited veterinary pain medication options has meant that feline chronic pain was often undertreated. Improved recognition tools like the Feline Grimace Scale and newer medications are changing this. Regular veterinary monitoring and owner education about behavioral pain signs are essential.

What You Can Do

Learn to recognize behavioral signs of pain in cats including reduced grooming and hiding
Schedule regular veterinary check-ups for older cats to monitor for osteoarthritis
Ask your vet about pain assessment scores during visits
Support research into better feline pain management options