Cats hide pain instinctively, making chronic conditions like arthritis frequently undetected. Improving recognition and treatment of feline chronic pain is a major welfare opportunity.
The combination of feline stoicism and owner unfamiliarity with subtle pain signs creates a massive welfare blind spot. A cat sleeping more, visiting the litter tray less, grooming its lower back less, or reacting when touched may be living with constant pain. Veterinary pain assessment tools now allow objective scoring, and effective treatments exist. The welfare imperative is better owner education and systematic pain screening at every veterinary visit.