Companion Animals

Companion Animal Welfare and Feline Pain Recognition 2026

Pain recognition in cats is challenging because cats hide pain, with new 2026 tools including the grimace scale improving diagnosis.

Key Facts

Cats evolved to hide pain as a survival strategy, making recognition challenging
The Feline Grimace Scale reliably identifies acute pain from facial expressions
Orbital tightening, ear position, and muzzle tightening are key pain indicators
Chronic pain in cats often presents as reduced activity and social withdrawal
Only 1 in 5 arthritic cats receives appropriate pain treatment according to surveys

Welfare Considerations

Unrecognised pain is unaddressed pain. New pain assessment tools and owner education are transforming pain recognition and treatment for cats.

What You Can Do

Learn the Feline Grimace Scale to identify acute pain in your cat
Consult your vet if your cat shows reduced activity or social withdrawal
Advocate for pain assessment as a routine part of veterinary cat examinations