Companion Animal Welfare

Cat Chronic Pain Welfare Recognition Advances

Advances in feline chronic pain recognition are transforming the identification and treatment of long-term pain in cats.

Key Facts

Cats with chronic pain from osteoarthritis are estimated to be significantly undertreated
The Feline Musculoskeletal Pain Index is a validated owner questionnaire detecting chronic pain
Activity monitors show reduced movement patterns associated with pain in OA cats
Owner-reported behavioural changes are more sensitive to chronic pain than clinical examination alone
New treatment options including monoclonal antibody therapy offer improved chronic pain control

Welfare Considerations

Chronic pain recognition advances are closing a major welfare gap in feline medicine. Owner questionnaires and activity monitoring provide welfare-relevant data between consultations that clinical examination cannot capture. Wider adoption of validated tools is the key implementation challenge.

What You Can Do

Use the Feline Musculoskeletal Pain Index questionnaire to monitor your senior cat for chronic pain
Share activity monitor data with your vet to support chronic pain assessment
Ask your vet about newer treatment options including monoclonal antibody therapy for feline OA pain