Cat Chronic Pain: Analgesic Options and Welfare

Analgesic options for cats are expanding. Understanding what treatments are available and evidence-based helps owners advocate for adequate pain management for their cats.

Key Facts

Meloxicam is the most widely used NSAID in cats but requires kidney monitoring with long-term use
Robenacoxib (Onsior) is licensed for short-term pain management in cats with a favorable safety profile
Gabapentin provides effective analgesia for neuropathic pain and is increasingly used in cats
Buprenorphine can be administered sublingually and provides moderate opioid analgesia
Frunevetmab (Solensia), an anti-NGF monoclonal antibody, is licensed specifically for osteoarthritis pain in cats
Multimodal analgesia — combining drugs with different mechanisms — often provides better control than single-drug approaches

Welfare Considerations

Adequate analgesic management for cats with chronic pain has historically lagged behind that for dogs and humans, partly due to the metabolic limitations of cats (they cannot metabolize many NSAIDs safely long-term). The availability of frunevetmab represents a genuine advance — a targeted biological therapy with an excellent safety profile specifically for feline osteoarthritis pain. Owners who advocate for their cats to receive the best available analgesic management, not just the least expensive option, directly improve their cat's quality of life.

What You Can Do

Ask your vet specifically about analgesic options for any cat with diagnosed pain-causing conditions
Discuss frunevetmab (Solensia) for cats with osteoarthritis — monthly injections have an excellent safety profile
Use gabapentin for neuropathic pain components alongside other analgesics as part of multimodal management
Monitor kidney values if long-term NSAID therapy is prescribed, as directed by your vet
Assess pain management effectiveness objectively using quality of life scoring tools
Advocate for your cat to receive pain management that genuinely controls their pain, not just minimal intervention