Companion Animal Welfare

Companion Cat: Perioperative Pain Management

Pain management around surgical procedures in cats has improved dramatically but remains inconsistently applied, leaving preventable suffering in many practices.

Key Facts

Pre-operative NSAID administration reduces post-operative pain and speeds recovery in cats
Cats metabolise many pain medications differently to dogs, requiring species-specific protocols
Local anaesthesia techniques including nerve blocks reduce general anaesthetic requirements
Pain assessment in cats uses validated scales including the Glasgow Composite Pain Scale
Post-operative pain is consistently underestimated in cats compared to dogs in veterinary settings

Welfare Considerations

Inadequate perioperative pain management causes unnecessary suffering during one of the most stressful experiences in a cat's life. Evidence shows cats receive pain relief less consistently than dogs despite similar nociceptive capacity. Multi-modal analgesia combining pre-operative NSAIDs, intraoperative local anaesthesia, and post-operative pain assessment significantly improves welfare around surgical procedures.

What You Can Do

Ask your vet specifically about pain management protocols before any surgical procedure
Enquire about pre-operative pain medication administration before anaesthesia
Learn to use a pain scale to monitor your cat at home after surgery
Seek a second opinion if pain management seems inadequate after a procedure
Support veterinary education programmes that improve cat pain assessment