Chronic pain is widespread but chronically underdiagnosed in pet cats, particularly osteoarthritis. Because cats hide pain and rarely vocalise it, owners and even veterinarians frequently miss its presence — with serious welfare consequences.
The chronic pain burden in the cat population is one of the most significant underaddressed welfare issues in companion animal medicine. The stoic presentation of cats — an evolutionary adaptation in a small predator that cannot afford to signal vulnerability — means that behavioural pain indicators require specific training to recognise. Owners frequently attribute their cat's reduced activity or altered habits to "slowing down with age" rather than identifying pain as a treatable cause. New treatment options, including anti-NGF biologics, have transformed management prospects for cats who could not tolerate long-term NSAIDs. Multimodal analgesia combining pharmacological and environmental modification (ramps, lower litter trays, heated beds) significantly improves quality of life and activity level.