Chronic pain in cats is significantly underdiagnosed due to their stoic nature, but validated grimace scales and behavioral indicators now allow better detection and treatment.
Cats are extreme stoics that evolved to hide pain as vulnerability invites predation. Chronic pain from osteoarthritis, dental disease, bladder conditions, and cancer is widely underrecognized and undertreated. Owners often attribute behavioral changes including reduced activity, altered grooming, litter box avoidance, and irritability to normal aging rather than pain. The validated Feline Grimace Scale allows reliable pain assessment from photographs of facial expressions. Veterinary assessment of mobility and joint health in older cats is essential. Meloxicam and newer monoclonal antibodies including frunevetmab target nerve growth factor and provide effective arthritis pain relief. Environmental modifications including ramps, lower-sided litter boxes, and heated sleeping areas reduce pain impacts in affected cats.