Cats are exceptional at concealing pain, making assessment challenging but essential. Validated tools now exist to help owners and vets identify chronic pain earlier and improve feline welfare.
Chronic pain in cats is one of the most significant and most undertreated welfare problems in companion animal medicine. Because cats do not complain, owners and veterinarians often attribute behavioral changes - a cat sleeping more, no longer jumping to the sofa, being less sociable - to 'getting old' rather than recognizing them as pain signs. Arthritis-related pain in senior cats is almost universal and almost universally undertreated. The welfare cost is years of daily discomfort that could be significantly reduced with appropriate diagnosis and pain management. The Feline Grimace Scale and validated mobility questionnaires have transformed what is possible.