Companion Animal Welfare

Cat Pain Behaviour and Recognition Welfare

Recognising pain in cats is challenging because they hide pain as prey species, requiring active assessment rather than waiting for obvious signs.

Key Facts

Cats hide pain as an evolutionary strategy making recognition by owners and vets difficult
Subtle behavioural changes including reduced grooming, hiding and altered posture indicate pain
The Feline Grimace Scale (FGS) provides a validated facial assessment tool for acute pain
Owner-completed chronic pain questionnaires detect longer-term changes not visible in consultations
Cats rarely vocalise pain, so vocalisations when they occur indicate severe pain

Welfare Considerations

Cat pain recognition requires active assessment using validated tools rather than waiting for obvious signs that cats suppress. Educating owners about subtle pain indicators and training vets to use validated assessment tools substantially closes the pain detection gap.

What You Can Do

Learn the subtle behavioural signs of pain in cats including reduced grooming and changed posture
Use validated pain questionnaires to monitor your cat's chronic pain status at home
Ask your vet about using FGS for acute pain assessment after procedures or injuries