Companion Animals

Companion Cat Post-Operative Pain Management

Evidence-based approaches to managing post-operative pain in cats, addressing the challenges of feline pain recognition.

Key Facts

Cats are notoriously difficult to assess for pain, often masking signs
The Feline Grimace Scale enables objective pain scoring using facial action units
NSAIDs are first-line analgesics for most cat surgeries but require careful dosing
Opioids are effective for moderate to severe post-operative pain in cats
Pre-emptive analgesia reduces overall analgesic requirements in surgical patients

Welfare Considerations

Inadequate post-operative pain management in cats causes preventable suffering. The difficulty of recognizing feline pain means that animals often receive insufficient analgesia based on observer impressions. Objective pain assessment tools and multimodal protocols improve outcomes.

What You Can Do

Ask your veterinarian about their post-operative pain assessment and management protocols
Request pain assessment records from your veterinarian after your cat's surgery
Advocate for Feline Grimace Scale training in veterinary practices