Pain management in senior cats has improved dramatically with new medications, but remains significantly under-implemented relative to the prevalence of painful conditions in older cats.
Pain management in senior cats represents one of the most important and currently under-addressed opportunities in companion animal welfare. The combination of cats hiding pain, owners attributing behavioral changes to normal aging, and until recently limited treatment options meant that millions of senior cats lived with significant untreated pain throughout their final years. New treatment options including feline-specific monoclonal antibodies for arthritis pain, better antiemetics, and improved analgesic protocols have transformed what is achievable. The remaining challenge is ensuring owners and veterinarians recognize and treat pain rather than accepting reduced quality of life as inevitable in aging cats. Proactive senior wellness programs with specific welfare assessment tools are changing outcomes for senior cats.