Facial Expression Scoring Tools Are Helping Vets Catch Hidden Pain in Cats

Veterinary researchers continue to refine facial expression scoring systems, often called feline grimace scales, designed to catch pain that cats are evolutionarily well-equipped to hide. The scales score pain based on ear position, degree of eye squinting, whisker tension, and head posture, giving clinicians a faster, more objective read than behavior history alone.

The tools were developed in response to a persistent clinical problem: cats mask pain far more effectively than dogs, meaning overt signs like limping or vocalizing are typically late-stage indicators. Veterinary behaviorists note that subtler signs — reduced jumping, a drop in self-grooming, and increased time spent in a hunched 'loaf' posture — are often the first visible changes and are frequently missed by owners.

Because arthritis in cats is considered significantly underdiagnosed relative to dogs, veterinary organizations are encouraging more routine mobility and pain screening in senior cat wellness visits, alongside owner education on what early, subtle pain signals actually look like.

A full list of the pain signals owners most often miss, including how to compare recent photos of your cat's face to older ones for early warning signs, is covered in signs of pain in cats owners often miss.

Sources

• Merck Veterinary Manual — Diagnosing Behavior Problems in Cats