Cat Pain Assessment and the Challenge of Stoicism

Cats are highly stoic animals that conceal pain, making assessment extremely challenging and leading to widespread under-recognition and under-treatment of feline pain across veterinary and home settings.

Key Facts

Cats evolved as both predator and prey, making pain concealment a survival strategy
The Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale (CMPS-Feline) provides validated acute pain assessment
The Feline Grimace Scale uses facial expressions (ear position, eye narrowing, whisker position) to assess pain
Chronic pain in cats is often recognized only in retrospect after quality of life improves with treatment
Studies show veterinarians consistently underestimate pain in feline patients compared to dogs
A survey found that over 90% of cats over 12 years have radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis
Many cats with painful conditions remain undiagnosed and untreated for months to years

Welfare Considerations

The stoicism of cats creates a systematic welfare blind spot. Cats in significant chronic pain may appear simply 'less active' or 'getting old' to owners and veterinarians alike. The Feline Grimace Scale, developed by researchers at Universite de Montreal, has been a significant advance in allowing assessment of pain intensity from facial photographs. Its free availability and validation in multiple languages has improved feline pain recognition, but adoption in clinical practice remains inconsistent.

What You Can Do

Learn the Feline Grimace Scale indicators to assess your cat's comfort level at home
Request pain assessment using validated tools at every veterinary visit for senior cats
Advocate for routine pain screening as part of wellness examinations for cats over 7 years
If your cat's activity level has changed, request a pain assessment before attributing it to aging
Support feline pain research through donations to university veterinary school research funds