Chronic pain affects a large proportion of older cats, particularly from osteoarthritis. Improved recognition and treatment would significantly reduce feline suffering globally.
Chronic pain in cats represents a significant welfare problem that is underrecognized and undertreated. Cats evolved to conceal pain and illness — a survival strategy that makes clinical pain assessment extremely challenging. Owners and veterinarians may interpret reduced activity, behavioral changes, and altered grooming as normal aging when they reflect untreated chronic pain. Osteoarthritis affects the majority of senior cats but is diagnosed in only a small fraction. Recent developments in feline-specific pain assessment tools and novel analgesic treatments including monoclonal antibodies targeting nerve growth factor are improving our ability to identify and treat chronic pain in cats. Routine pain screening in senior cats should become standard veterinary practice.