Companion Animals

Chronic Pain in Cats: The Hidden Welfare Crisis

Cats are even more stoic than dogs and chronic pain conditions including arthritis are massively underdiagnosed.

Key Facts

Studies suggest 90 percent of cats over 12 years old have radiographic evidence of arthritis
Dental disease affecting 70 percent of cats over 3 years old causes chronic oral pain
Feline arthritis causes reduced jumping, grooming, and altered facial expressions
The Feline Grimace Scale allows veterinary pain assessment from photographs
Most cat owners do not recognise the signs of arthritis until behaviour changes significantly

Welfare Considerations

Chronic pain in cats represents a massive hidden welfare problem. The instinct to mask vulnerability means cats continue normal-seeming routines while experiencing persistent pain. Arthritis prevents cats from grooming difficult areas leading to secondary coat problems. Dental pain alters eating behaviour but owners often attribute this to preference rather than pain. The widespread underdiagnosis means millions of cats live with untreated chronic pain.

What You Can Do

Schedule annual dental and mobility assessments for all cats over 7 years old
Learn the Feline Grimace Scale to recognise subtle pain expressions in your cat
Provide climbing aids and modified litter trays to help arthritic cats
Discuss multimodal pain management with your vet for older cats
Support research into feline chronic pain prevalence and treatment effectiveness