Acute Pain Scale - Cats

Name [Click/tap here to enter name] Date [Enter date] Time [00:00 am/pm]

Rescore when awake Animal is sleeping but can be aroused - not evaluated for pain.
Animal can’t be aroused, check vital signs - assess therapy.

Score Example Psychological and behavioural Response to palpation Body tension

Content and quiet when unattended. Nontender to palpation of Minimal

Comfortable when resting. wound or surgery site or to

0 Interested in or curious about

surroundings.
palpation elsewhere.

Signs are often subtle and not easily May or may not react to Mild
detected in the hospital setting; more palpation of wound or
likely to be detected by the owner(s) at surgery site.
home.
Earliest signs at home may be withdrawal

1 from surroundings or change in normal

routine.
In the hospital, may be content or slightly
unsettled.
Less interested in surroundings but will
look around to see what is going on.
Decreased responsiveness, seeks solitude. Responds aggressively or Mild to
tries to escape if painful moderate
Quiet, loss of brightness in eyes.
area is palpated or Reassess
Lays curled up or sits tucked up (all four approached. analgesic plan.
feet under body, shoulders hunched, head
held slightly lower than shoulders, tail Tolerates attention, may

2 curled tightly around body) with eyes

partially or mostly closed.
even perk up when petted
as long as painful area is
avoided.
Hair coat appears rough or fluffed up.
May intensively groom an area that is
painful or irritating.
Decreased appetite, not interested in food.
Constantly yowling, growling, or hissing Growls or hisses at non- Moderate
when unattended. painful palpation (may be Reassess
May bite or chew at wound, but unlikely experiencing allodynia, analgesic plan.

3 to move if left alone. wind-up, or fearful that

pain could be made worse).
Reacts aggressively to
palpation, adamantly pulls
away to avoid any contact.
Prostrate. May not respond to Moderate to

4 Potentially unresponsive to or unaware of

surroundings, difficult to distract from
palpation.
May be rigid to avoid
severe
May be rigid to
pain. painful movement. avoid painful
movement.
Receptive to care (even aggressive or

ARCACIA / Acute Pain Scale - Cats 1/2

Created: 12-05-2016 / Updated: 12-02-2024
 Score Example Psychological and behavioural Response to palpation Body tension

feral cats will be more tolerant of contact. Reassess

analgesic plan.

Copied under s113P, Colorado State University Veterinary Medical Center, Canine Acute Pain Scale, http://csu-
cvmbs.colostate.edu/Documents/anesthesia-pain-management-pain-score-feline.pdf (accessed 30/07/2019)

Key Right Left

 Tender to palpation
 Warm
 Tense

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ARCACIA / Acute Pain Scale - Cats 2/2

Created: 12-05-2016 / Updated: 12-02-2024