Cats are stoic pain concealers whose welfare is significantly compromised by underrecognized and undertreated acute and chronic pain conditions.
Stoic behavior means cats mask pain until it is severe, causing prolonged suffering before presentation to veterinarians. Chronic kidney disease causes gastrointestinal discomfort and bone pain that owners rarely recognize. Dental disease causes chronic oral pain during eating that cats adapt to rather than show. Osteoarthritis pain prevents normal grooming and interaction causing psychological distress. Treatment rates for recognized cat pain remain well below those for equivalent dog conditions.