Chronic pain is pervasive but underdiagnosed in cats, with arthritis, dental disease, and interstitial cystitis causing persistent suffering that profoundly affects quality of life.
Chronic pain in cats represents one of the most significant and underaddressed welfare problems in companion animal medicine. Cats' tendency to reduce activity and withdraw rather than vocalise pain means that significant chronic pain is often attributed to normal aging. Arthritis causes daily pain that affects mobility, grooming, social interaction, and litter tray access. Validated pain assessment tools including the Feline Grimace Scale and owner-completed quality of life questionnaires enable more objective assessment. Effective multimodal pain management — including NSAIDs, environmental modification, and physiotherapy — dramatically improves quality of life.