Assessment of pain in cats

Recognition and assessment of pain is important in animal welfare as untreated pain can cause harm through catabolism, delayed healing, impaired respiration and increased morbidity (Cambridge et al., 2000). Assessment of pain in cats is complicated and can be difficult to recognise because behavioural manifestations are frequently subtle or non-existent (Wright, 2002). The difficulty in assessing pain in cats reflects the need to recognize and summate complex and subtle behaviours that provide an objective measurement of pain (Burrow et al., 2006). It is also important in emergency care to have a sensitive and reliable pain-scoring system that is quick and simple to use (Robertson, 2005).