Post-operative pain in cats is frequently undertreated. Adequate analgesia after surgery is a welfare obligation that requires both appropriate prescribing and owner education for home management.
Post-operative pain management in cats has historically lagged behind that in dogs and humans. The stoic nature of cats and the challenges of feline pain assessment have contributed to systematic under-treatment. A cat recovering from surgery in pain is experiencing a preventable welfare harm. The veterinary profession's responsibility extends beyond the operating theatre: ensuring adequate analgesia is prescribed for home administration, that owners understand how to assess pain at home, and that follow-up contact identifies cases where pain control is inadequate. The feline patient who hides, refuses food, and sits hunched in the days following surgery is communicating pain through the only signals available to them — recognising these signals is a welfare-critical skill for vets and owners alike.