Companion Animal Welfare

Cat Multimodal Pain Assessment in Practice

Accurately assessing pain in cats requires multimodal approaches combining behavioral observation, physiological measures, and validated pain scales.

Key Facts

The Feline Grimace Scale is validated for acute pain assessment
UNESP-Botucatu and Glasgow pain scales assess pain in clinical settings
Cats frequently hide pain, making assessment more challenging than in dogs
Facial action units (brow, whisker, ear position) indicate pain
Owner-reported behavioral changes are valuable pain indicators

Welfare Considerations

Undetected and undertreated pain is a significant welfare problem in cats. Their tendency to hide pain means many cats suffer in silence. Validated multimodal pain assessment tools enable vets to detect and treat pain that would otherwise go unrecognized, dramatically improving welfare outcomes.

What You Can Do

Learn the Feline Grimace Scale for home pain monitoring
Report subtle behavioral changes to your vet - they may indicate pain
Ask your vet whether your cat receives adequate pain management
Advocate for pain assessment as a routine part of every cat consultation