Cats are masters at hiding pain, making recognition challenging for owners and veterinarians, often resulting in undertreatment of significant welfare problems.
Feline pain recognition is a significant veterinary welfare challenge. Unlike dogs, cats rarely vocalize pain and instead withdraw, become less active, and reduce normal social behaviors. Owners frequently attribute these changes to the cat getting older rather than recognizing the pain driving the change. The Feline Grimace Scale, which scores ear position, orbital tightening, muzzle tension, and whisker position, provides a validated clinical assessment tool. Regular veterinary assessments that specifically evaluate for pain, particularly in senior cats, significantly improve welfare outcomes through earlier treatment.