Cat Pain Recognition and Management

Cats are masters of pain concealment — an evolutionary adaptation as prey species — making recognition and treatment of feline pain one of the most challenging and consequential welfare issues in companion animal veterinary care.

Key Facts

Cats with chronic pain (arthritis, dental disease, cancer) often show no obvious signs detectable by owners
The Feline Grimace Scale — measuring ear position, orbital tightening, muzzle tension, whisker position, and head position — is a validated pain assessment tool
Chronic feline pain is significantly under-recognised and under-treated compared to equivalent canine conditions
Feline arthritis affects an estimated 40% of cats over 5 years and over 90% of cats over 14 years
NSAIDs used safely in dogs and humans can cause kidney failure in cats — analgesic options are more limited, requiring specialist knowledge
Cats with unrecognised pain may be labelled as "difficult," "hiding," or "not affectionate" when they are actually suffering
Gabapentin, buprenorphine, and specialist feline-approved NSAIDs are now available for multi-modal feline pain management
Remote video monitoring of cats at home can reveal pain-related behavioural changes invisible during veterinary visits

Welfare Considerations

The welfare implications of cat pain concealment are significant: a cat with chronic arthritis, dental disease, or post-operative pain may be suffering daily without any behaviour that alerts its owner. The evolutionary logic of pain concealment — appearing healthy to avoid predator attention — serves cats poorly in domestic settings where health care is available and pain detection is the prerequisite for treatment. Veterinary education on feline pain assessment has improved substantially with tools like the Feline Grimace Scale, but their uptake in general practice remains incomplete. Owner education about what pain-related behaviour change looks like in cats is one of the highest-leverage welfare interventions in feline medicine — recognising the problem is the prerequisite for solving it.

What You Can Do

Learn feline pain indicators — reduced grooming, decreased activity, reluctance to jump, altered facial expression
Request a feline pain assessment at every senior cat veterinary visit and proactively mention any behaviour changes
Do not accept "just old age" as an explanation for changed behaviour in senior cats without pain investigation
Support veterinary continuing education on feline pain assessment and multi-modal analgesia protocols