Is Your Cat Really Happy? What New Research Reveals

How can you tell if your cat is hiding pain or if a change in behavior deserves a closer look? KJ McGlinn talks with Dr. Tammie King of the Waltham Petcare Science Institute about feline quality of life and the subtle clues cat parents can easily miss.

In this Cat Conversation from Pet Pals TV, we explore research designed to help us better understand our cats’ physical and emotional wellbeing throughout their lives.

Your cat may seem less playful, stop climbing, or spend less time interacting with you. Is that simply their personality or age—or could something else be happening?

KJ shares what happened when her cat Malcolm, whom she had always called a “ground dweller,” started climbing the family’s cat shelves after treatment for joint pain. His story brings this conversation home: sometimes a behavior we think is “just our cat” deserves another look.

In this conversation:
• Why cats hide pain and discomfort
• Changes in activity, appetite, mobility, and social behavior worth noticing
• Why quality of life matters at every life stage
• How researchers developed the Feline Quality of Life questionnaire
• What cat trees, shelves, and elevated perches have to do with feline wellbeing
• How observations at home can support conversations with your veterinarian
• How eligible cats and dogs can participate in the Mars Petcare Biobank

ABOUT THE RESEARCH
The Feline Quality of Life questionnaire, also called FelQoL, assesses cats’ physical and emotional wellbeing. Its development and validation included responses from more than 1,300 cat owners in the United States and United Kingdom.

Learn about the research:
https://www.waltham.com/feline-quality-life-study

Explore Mars Petcare Biobank participation and current eligibility:
https://marspetcarebiobank.com/pet-owners

At the time of this interview, Dr. King explained that the questionnaire was being used in research and was not yet available as a standalone public app or test.

Have you ever discovered that something you thought was “just your cat’s personality” was connected to their health? Tell us about your cat in the comments.

Subscribe for more Cat Conversations with KJ and expert interviews about the cats we love.

This conversation is educational. Discuss changes in your cat’s health or behavior with your veterinarian.

#CatHealth #CatBehavior #PetPalsTV