Companion Animal Welfare

Companion Cat: Pain Assessment in Clinical Practice

Feline pain assessment in veterinary practice has improved with validated scales but remains challenging due to cats' tendency to mask pain.

Key Facts

The Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale - Feline (CMPS-F) is a validated clinical pain assessment tool
Cats show subtler pain behaviours than dogs, including reduced interaction and posture changes
Facial action coding in cats (CatFACS) identifies pain through subtle facial expressions
Owners often report behaviour changes retrospectively that indicate chronic pain was present
Post-operative pain assessment should occur at 2, 4, and 8 hours after surgery as a minimum

Welfare Considerations

Pain assessment is the foundation of pain management - if pain is not recognised, it is not treated. Cats' tendency to mask pain means their suffering is systematically underestimated compared to dogs. Using validated assessment tools, involving owners in recognising their individual cat's normal behaviour, and treating pain pre-emptively rather than waiting for obvious signs represents the welfare-positive approach to feline pain management.

What You Can Do

Ask your vet about pain assessment protocols before any procedure or for chronic disease
Learn about feline pain indicators including subtle posture and facial changes
Report any behaviour changes to your vet as potential indicators of chronic pain
Ensure post-operative pain relief is prescribed with instructions for monitoring at home
Advocate for pain assessment to be a standard component of feline veterinary care