The Feline Grimace Scale (FGS): Assessing Cat Pain Through Ears, Eyes, and Whiskers

Cats are evolutionary masters at concealing pain: in the wild, displaying vulnerability invites predation. Consequently, vocalizations are unreliable pain indicators, and most cats suffer in total silence.

Sources

This guide is not a substitute for a vet.

Close-up veterinary portrait of a domestic cat facial expressions used in pain assessment — Photo: Nekolife

In this guide

1. The 5 Facial Action Units of the FGS

Ear Position: Ears facing forward (0), slightly rotated or flattened outward (1), fully flattened and rotated back/out (2).
Orbital Tightening: Eyes round and open (0), partially squinted/almond-shaped (1), tightly closed (2).
Muzzle Tension: Relaxed and round (0), moderately tense (1), flattened into an oval pressed against the face (2).
Whisker Position: Loose and naturally curved (0), slightly curved forward or straight (1), pushed forward away from the face and bunched (2).
Head Position: Head held high above the shoulder line (0), head level with the spine (1), head held low or tucked to the chest (2).

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2. Clinical Scoring Interpretation

0 to 3 points: Minimal or absent pain.
4 to 10 points: Significant clinical pain. Veterinary intervention and prescription analgesia are urgently warranted.

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3. When to Seek Emergency Veterinary Care

If high pain scores are accompanied by rapid shallow breathing, abdominal guarding, or acute distress, find 24/7 care through our directory of emergency veterinary clinics.

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Scientific Sources and References

University of Montreal: Feline Grimace Scale: Development and Validation (Evangelista et al., Nature Scientific Reports).
WSAVA: Global Pain Guidelines.

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