Companion Animals

Companion Cat Pain Management Advanced

Advanced pain management for cats addresses the challenge of species-specific drug limitations through multimodal approaches and new biologics.

Key Facts

Cats metabolise NSAIDs poorly, limiting options available compared to dogs
Buprenorphine is the most versatile opioid for feline pain management in multiple settings
Gabapentin provides effective pain relief and anti-anxiety effects for cats
Anti-NGF biologics including Solensia offer safe monthly arthritis pain management
Multimodal approaches combining different drug classes achieve better pain control at lower individual doses

Welfare Considerations

Feline pain management has historically been limited by NSAID intolerance that leaves cats without adequate analgesic options available to dogs. The development of Solensia specifically for cats addresses chronic arthritis pain safely. Multimodal protocols combining buprenorphine, gabapentin, and biologics provide comprehensive pain management for complex feline pain conditions. These advances directly improve welfare for the millions of cats experiencing chronic pain.

What You Can Do

Discuss modern feline pain management options with your vet rather than accepting 'nothing can be done'
Ask about Solensia for cats with arthritis that cannot receive NSAIDs
Seek specialist referral for cats with chronic pain not adequately controlled by standard approaches