Companion Animals

Cat Feline Grimace Scale - Pain Assessment Tool

The Feline Grimace Scale (FGS) provides a validated, accessible pain assessment tool based on facial expressions, enabling earlier and more consistent pain management in cats.

Key Facts

The FGS was developed and validated at the University of Montreal in 2019
Five facial action units are assessed: ear position, eye openness, muzzle tension, whisker position and head position
Scores above 4/10 on the FGS indicate treatment-level pain requiring intervention
The FGS can be applied from photographs, enabling remote pain assessment
Owner-completed FGS assessments show good agreement with veterinary assessments

Welfare Considerations

Pain assessment in cats has historically been difficult due to their stoic behaviour. The FGS provides a practical, validated tool that improves pain recognition and treatment rates.

What You Can Do

Learn to use the Feline Grimace Scale from freely available online resources
Share the FGS with your vet clinic and ask about its integration into practice
Apply FGS assessment to any cat in your care following surgery or trauma