I've just read an article in a veterinary publication describing a study on the use of painkillers in arthritic cats. I have felt for a while now that we don't take enough notice of pain in cats. Acute pain is obvious, but chronic pain which starts very low-grade and gradually builds up, mainly that of arthritis, can be very easily overlooked. The article pointed out that the ways in which we assess joint pain in dogs - mainly lameness, gait changes, crepitus (crunching) on flexing the joint, do not apply in cats. It is thought that because cats are lower in weight, more flexible, and frequently have multiple joints affected, they rarely show the classic signs that dogs do.

People who suffer from arthritis have told me how extremely painful it can be. With our cats living longer lives these days, and often being a little overweight, arthritis has increased in this species. The article describes a different way of assessing chronic pain in cats, by reference to their behaviour. Affected cats were hesitant to jump up or down and were less agile on stairs; they slept more and didn't change sleeping location very often; they were more grumpy with their owner and with other cats; and they were observed grooming less frequently and often had a matted or scurfy coat.

Treatment of these cats with a liquid painkiller in their food produced a measureable improvement in their behaviour and a reduction in their pain. We all know how being in pain ourselves makes us grumpy. It appears the same is true of our pets, but the good news is that they don't have to suffer in silence any more....