Companion Cat Perioperative Pain: Standards for Surgical Welfare

Cats undergoing surgery require careful perioperative pain management. Evidence-based protocols ensure surgical welfare and faster recovery.

Key Facts

Cats metabolise many drugs differently from dogs and humans, requiring species-specific protocols
NSAIDs including meloxicam are the cornerstone of feline postoperative analgesia
Local anaesthesia blocks significantly reduce inhalation anaesthetic requirements
Pain assessment in cats requires validated tools rather than assumption of pain-free recovery
Buprenorphine is widely used for feline perioperative analgesia due to its safety profile
Stress reduction through pheromones and quiet recovery environments improves postoperative welfare

Welfare Considerations

Perioperative pain management in cats has historically been under-prioritised due to difficulties in pain assessment and the mistaken belief that restriction of movement aids healing. Modern evidence supports multimodal analgesia - combining local blocks, NSAIDs, and opioids - as the standard of care. Pain causes physiological stress that impairs healing, immune function, and recovery speed. Adequate analgesia is both ethical and clinically beneficial.

What You Can Do

Ask your vet about their perioperative pain management protocols for cat procedures
Choose veterinary practices using validated feline pain assessment tools postoperatively
Advocate for pain management standards to be included in veterinary practice accreditation requirements