Companion Animals

Cat Feline Post-Operative Pain Management

Adequate post-operative pain management in cats is essential but historically underdelivered due to difficulties in feline pain recognition.

Key Facts

Cats metabolize many pain medications differently from dogs and require species-specific protocols
The Glasgow Composite Pain Scale for cats allows validated pain assessment post-surgery
Buprenorphine is widely used for post-operative pain control in cats
NSAIDs provide important multimodal pain control but require careful renal monitoring
Owners often underestimate the duration of post-operative pain, stopping medications too early

Welfare Considerations

Cats with inadequate post-operative pain control suffer unnecessarily. The challenge of feline pain recognition has historically led to undertreatment that can now be addressed through validated assessment tools and appropriate protocols.

What You Can Do

Discuss post-operative pain management plans with your vet before any procedure
Complete the full course of pain medications prescribed after surgery
Learn to use the Glasgow Composite Pain Scale for cats to assess pain at home after discharge