Cat Welfare: Chronic Pain Recognition and Management

Chronic pain in cats is systematically underdiagnosed because cats mask pain signs. Understanding the subtle indicators and treatment options improves welfare outcomes.

Key Facts

Degenerative joint disease affects an estimated 70-90% of cats over 12 years old
Cats rarely vocalise pain and instead show subtle behavioural changes that owners and vets may miss
Changes in jumping height, grooming, interaction, and litter box use are key pain indicators
The Feline Grimace Scale provides a validated tool for assessing acute and chronic pain in cats
NSAIDs licensed for long-term use in cats include meloxicam - effective but requiring regular monitoring
Multimodal pain management combining medication, environmental adaptation, and physiotherapy improves outcomes

Welfare Considerations

Chronic pain in cats is a pervasive and underaddressed welfare problem. The feline tendency to mask pain signs means that many cats live with significant chronic pain undiagnosed and untreated. Owners attribute reduced activity and altered behaviour to normal ageing rather than treatable pain. Vets may not systematically screen for pain in older cats without owner-reported concerns. Welfare-positive feline healthcare requires proactive pain screening in older cats, owner education about subtle pain signs, and willingness to trial analgesia diagnostically. The transformative impact of appropriate pain relief on affected cats makes this one of the highest-value welfare interventions in companion animal practice.

What You Can Do

Learn the subtle signs of chronic pain in cats - reduced grooming, changed jump height, altered behaviour
Request pain assessment for any cat over 10 years old at annual health checks
Discuss long-term analgesia with your vet for cats showing signs of degenerative joint disease
Support research into feline pain assessment and treatment effectiveness