When should the Feline Grimace Scale be used?

Use before and after analgesic administration, post-operatively, in trauma cases, and for any cat showing signs of discomfort. It is most reliable when the cat is undisturbed in a familiar environment.

What is a normal FGS score?

A score of 0–2 suggests no to minimal pain. Scores of 3–4 indicate mild pain, 5–6 moderate pain, and 7–10 severe pain requiring immediate intervention.

Can I use FGS in sedated or anesthetized cats?

No. FGS requires evaluation of spontaneous facial expressions. Sedation and anesthesia alter facial muscle tone and invalidate scoring. Use before sedation or after full recovery.

Feline Grimace Scale | Pain Assessment

Safety checks

This tool supports assessment and education only.
It does not replace comprehensive pain evaluation or clinical judgment.
Always consider individual patient factors, procedure type, and concurrent disease.
Do not use in sedated or anesthetized patients.
Verify decisions with current analgesia and pain management references.

Basis and limits

Basis: Feline Grimace Scale (FGS) published by Evangelista et al. (2019) and validated for acute pain assessment in cats.
Score range: 0–10 (sum of 5 action units, each scored 0–2).
Interpretation: 0–2 no/minimal pain; 3–4 mild pain; 5–6 moderate pain; 7–10 severe pain.
Scope: acute pain assessment. Less validated for chronic pain or non-painful distress.

Related tools

Feline grimace scale