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VN develops pain assessment tool for cats
Tortie cat
Gillian and her team also assessed facial expressions as an indicator of acute pain in cats.
Tool based on psychometric methodology

A veterinary nurse has developed the world's first acute pain assessment tool for cats based on psychometric methodology.

The development follows the success of the behaviour-based Glasgow CMPS-SF for dogs, which is now generally accepted as a clinical standard for the measurement of acute pain in that species.

Senior practitioner nurse Gillian Calvo, along with her team of world renowned specialists in the field of pain management, spent many years developing and refining the clinically significant tool, known as the Composite Measure Pain Scale - Feline (CMPS-F).

The CMPS-F tool evaluates acute pain in six behavioural categories; vocalisation, activity/posture, attention to wound, response to people, response to touch, and demeanour. Each of the categories is given a score and a total score out of a possible 16 is derived. If a total score of four of higher is achieved, then users should consider intervention with analgesia.

Gillian and her team also assessed facial expressions as an indicator of acute pain in cats - the first study of its kind to demonstrate that facial features can be used to determine acute pain in cats.

The team are also determined to further develop the CMPS-F tool to include the incorporation of a facial expression component with the aim of improving sensitivity of the scale.

Gillian Calvo said: “I am absolutely delighted to have been part of the development of this ground-breaking CMPS-F tool which is available for veterinary professionals to use as an adjunct to their clinical judgement when assessing acute pain in cats. 

I feel immensely privileged to have had the opportunity to be the voice for so many felines and can’t wait to see the difference the CMPS-F tool will make to the lives of so many cats, vets and vet nurses worldwide”.

Gillian's paper “Development of a behaviour based measurement tool with defined intervention level for assessing acute pain in cats” is published in the Journal of Small Animal Practice.

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."