A global survey of attitudes and practices of veterinarians about pain management in cats.

Geographic variation in feline pain management knowledge and practice necessitates targeted education initiatives.

This global survey of 2,194 veterinarians across 88 countries examined attitudes and practices regarding feline pain management. The study revealed that while nearly half of respondents rated their knowledge of acute pain assessment as good, only 40.7% felt confident assessing chronic pain. The Feline Grimace Scale was the most commonly used acute pain assessment tool (43.6%), yet 40.8% of respondents utilized no chronic pain assessment instruments. Meloxicam and buprenorphine dominated acute pain management, while meloxicam and robenacoxib were preferred for chronic pain. Significant geographic disparities emerged, with limited pain assessment knowledge reported in Asia, Africa, and South America. Perioperative analgesic administration patterns varied by region, with NSAIDs/opioids more common in Europe and North America. The research identified critical gaps in pain management knowledge and drug availability across different geographic regions, suggesting that regional factors substantially influence analgesic selection and administration practices in feline patients.

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