Companion Animal Welfare

Cat Perioperative Pain Management

Adequate perioperative pain management for cats undergoing surgery is a welfare imperative that has improved significantly but remains inconsistently applied.

Key Facts

Pre-emptive analgesia before surgery reduces total pain burden compared to post-operative treatment
NSAIDs are highly effective for soft tissue pain but require careful dosing in cats
Opioids provide effective control of severe perioperative pain in cats
Local anesthetic nerve blocks reduce inhalant anesthetic requirements and improve recovery
Post-operative pain monitoring in cats requires validated behavioral assessment tools

Welfare Considerations

Surgical pain in cats is real and often undertreated. Evidence-based perioperative analgesia - including pre-emptive medication, intraoperative support, and post-operative monitoring - is a standard of care that every cat undergoing surgery deserves.

What You Can Do

Ask your vet about their perioperative pain management protocol before any surgery
Ensure discharge instructions include pain monitoring guidance
Return to your vet if your cat shows pain signs after surgery - do not wait