Chronic pain in cats is massively underrecognized and undertreated due to feline stoicism, causing millions of cats to live with unnecessary long-term suffering.
The chronic pain crisis in cats is largely invisible. A cat that stops jumping on the couch, grooms less, or sleeps more than usual may be dismissed as 'just getting old' when in fact they are experiencing daily arthritic pain. Veterinary visits themselves are stressful, causing cats to mask pain during examination - making clinical assessment unreliable without specific validated tools. The conservative approach to analgesia in cats - given legitimate medication safety concerns - has historically meant many cats received no pain treatment at all. Modern options have transformed what is possible.