Frequently Asked Questions

The Feline Grimace Scale, also called the Cat Grimace Scale, is a structured observation method based on published research. It looks at five facial action units: ear position, orbital tightening, muzzle tension, whisker position, and head position. Each feature is scored 0, 1, or 2 against reference images, and the five values are added into a total from 0 to 10. It is designed to make subtle facial changes easier to notice.

No. The scale is an educational observation tool. It cannot diagnose pain, illness, or a specific condition, and it cannot tell you whether a cat needs medication. Many things other than pain change a cat's facial expression, including stress, fear, sleep, and lighting. A score is best used as a prompt to look more carefully and, if needed, to talk with a veterinarian.

Each of the five facial features is scored as 0 for absent, 1 for moderately present, or 2 for markedly present. The five scores are added together to produce a total from 0 to 10. If a feature cannot be seen clearly, it can be left unscored. An incomplete result is treated as partial information rather than a standard total, because the published guidance assumes all five features have been assessed.

Published owner guidance for the Feline Grimace Scale commonly uses a total of 4 or higher as a prompt to contact a veterinarian. The threshold means several facial features appeared changed at the same time. It is not a diagnosis. A lower score does not prove a cat is comfortable, and a higher score does not identify a particular disease.

Yes. The assessment tool includes a skip option that lets you move through the five comparisons without uploading a photo. Without a photo you have to rely on memory, so the result may be less consistent than working directly from a clear image. If you do upload a photo, it is processed in your browser and is not sent to a server.

Not necessarily. The scale only observes the face in one image at one moment. A cat can be unwell and still score low, especially in a blurry, angled, or poorly lit photo. Behavioural signs such as reduced appetite, hiding, or reluctance to move remain important even when the score is low. Trust your knowledge of the cat and contact a veterinarian if anything has changed.

Yes. Stress and fear can flatten the ears, narrow the eyes, and change whisker and head position, so a frightened cat may score higher even without pain. A clinic, carrier, or unfamiliar visitor can all change the face. The scale works best when the cat is settled in a familiar setting, and the result is read alongside the cat's normal behaviour.

No single facial feature reliably indicates pain. Flattened ears can mean fear, narrowed eyes can mean bright light or sleepiness, and a lowered head can mean the cat is resting. Looking at five features together reduces the risk of overinterpreting one sign and gives a more consistent overall pattern. The individual scores are kept visible for the same reason.

A clear, front-facing photo in even light works best. Both ears, both eyes, the muzzle, and the whisker area should be visible. Avoid extreme overhead angles, hard shadows, heavy blur, and filters. Photograph the cat when it is awake and settled. If a feature cannot be seen, mark it as not visible instead of guessing.

No. The assessment tool processes the photo entirely in your browser using local image processing. The image is not uploaded to an application server, and it is not stored by this website. Results are kept in your browser session. For more detail, see the privacy policy.