Companion Animal Welfare

Cat Pain Assessment Feline Grimace Scale

The Feline Grimace Scale provides an objective, validated tool for assessing acute pain in cats that improves pain recognition in veterinary and home settings.

Key Facts

The FGS assesses orbital tightening, muzzle tension, ear position, whisker change, and head position
Developed and validated at the University of Montreal with excellent inter-rater reliability
Pain assessment training significantly improves analgesic prescription in practices using the scale
Owner versions of the scale are being developed for home monitoring
The scale performs well across diverse cat populations and clinical conditions

Welfare Considerations

The Feline Grimace Scale makes cat pain recognition objective and teachable. Because cats hide pain effectively, validated observational tools provide the structured guidance owners and vets need to recognize pain they might otherwise miss.

What You Can Do

Learn the Feline Grimace Scale and use it to assess your cat's pain level
Share the FGS with your vet practice to improve pain recognition
Use the scale before and after pain treatment to evaluate treatment effectiveness