Cats hide pain instinctively, making chronic conditions like arthritis and dental disease severely underdiagnosed. Validated assessment tools and treatment improve welfare.
Feline chronic pain is a welfare emergency hiding in plain sight. Cats evolved as both prey and predator in environments where displaying pain invited predation — their stoicism is profound and systematic. Behavioural changes that owners attribute to normal ageing — reduced jumping, altered grooming, less interaction — are frequently expressions of chronic pain that is both real and treatable. The validation of the Feline Grimace Scale and owner-completed quality of life tools has transformed clinical ability to detect and monitor feline pain. Veterinary practices that proactively screen for chronic pain in senior cats, rather than waiting for overt signs, catch conditions earlier and achieve better welfare outcomes.