When your cat is sick or painful, you take him or her to the veterinarian
But pain behaviors are subtle and unique in cats - pain assessment can be difficult and they may not receive proper analgesic treatment
Pain assessment tools have been created, but they can be time-consuming to use and can be affected by the cat’s demeanor
Now, researchers at the Université de Montréal have developed the Feline Grimace Scale Similar to grimace scales in other species, the tool is a simple method of pain assessment using changes in facial expressions
Using video recordings of 70 cats, the researchers compared the images of painful and non-painful cats using rigorous scientific methods
They found that the position of the eyes, ears, whiskers, muzzle and head changes under painful conditions
These changes will return to their normal position after the administration of pain killers
Tests showed that the tool is accurate, valid and reliable, and a cut-off score for rescue analgesia was determined
The Feline Grimace Scale will help veterinarians with better recognition of acute pain, allowing better pain relief in cats
Keeping our feline friends happy and healthy
Many thanks to Zoetis for sponsoring this study
Evangelista, et al. “Facial expressions of pain in cats: the development and validation of a Feline Grimace Scale.” Scientific Reports (2019).