Chronic pain in cats is widespread but frequently missed. Better recognition tools and treatment approaches are transforming care for this stoic and often suffering species.
Chronic pain represents a hidden welfare epidemic in the cat population. Because cats instinctively conceal vulnerability, owners and even veterinarians frequently miss significant ongoing pain. A cat that has stopped jumping on furniture or using stairs is not "just getting old" — it is likely in pain and deserves assessment and management. The availability of validated owner questionnaires like the FMPI means owners can systematically track functional changes and bring objective data to veterinary consultations. Long-term pain management in cats requires careful drug selection given their unique hepatic metabolism, but effective options exist. Environmental adaptation to reduce painful movement is often the most immediately impactful intervention owners can make.