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Dr Duncan HoustonDr Duncan HoustonWritten by a practising veterinarian

Feline Pain Scale Calculator

Four validated feline pain tools in one, all recognised in the 2022 AAHA Pain Management Guidelines. Switch between them below.

Patient details

Who is being scored

These three fields print with the score. They are not read by any of the four scales.

Pain scale

Choose a scale and score the cat

CSU: holistic 0–4. Feline Grimace Scale: 5 facial units, /10 (treat ≥4). UNESP-Botucatu MCPS: 10 items, /30 (treat ≥8). Glasgow CMPS-Feline: 7 questions, /20 (treat ≥5).

How to use (CSU): Consider the cat's normal behaviour and demeanour. Evaluate psychological & behavioural signs and body tension from a distance, then palpate the wound/surgical site. Click the score that best matches overall. A sleeping cat cannot be scored — rescore when awake. Body tension is used as a tie-breaker.
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Cat · CSU Acute Pain Scale

No score selected

Select the row above that best describes the patient to generate a pain score and analgesic guidance.

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This calculator is a clinical decision-support aid, not a substitute for veterinary judgement. Pain scoring should be combined with full physical assessment, patient history and knowledge of the individual animal's baseline behaviour.

How this tool works

Where these four scales come from

Clinical references: Hellyer P, Uhrig S, Robinson N. Colorado State University Feline Acute Pain Scale. CSU Veterinary Medical Center. · Evangelista MC, et al. Facial expressions of pain in cats: the development and validation of a Feline Grimace Scale. Sci Rep 2019;9:19128. · Brondani JT, Luna SPL, et al. UNESP-Botucatu multidimensional composite pain scale for assessing postoperative pain in cats. BMC Vet Res 2013;9:143. · Reid J, Scott EM, Calvo G, Nolan AM. Definitive Glasgow acute pain scale for cats: validation and intervention level. Vet Rec 2017;180:449. All referenced in the 2022 AAHA Pain Management Guidelines.

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Dr Duncan Houston
About the author

Dr Duncan Houston · BVSc, Veterinarian

Emergency careGeneral practiceMobile vet careFounder, ASK A VET™

Dr Duncan Houston is an Australian veterinarian with experience in emergency, general-practice and mobile veterinary care. He is the founder of ASK A VET™. This guide is educational and is not a substitute for hands-on veterinary care.