NSAIDs are used widely in veterinary medicine; however, few are approved for use in cats. Robenacoxib (Onsior, onsior.com), a cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)–selective NSAID, is registered for use in dogs and cats and is available in oral and injectable formulations. Robenacoxib is considered relatively safe in cats, likely because of its COX-2 specificity, short half-life (≈1.5 hours), and blood and selective tissue distribution. This study sought to compare the efficacy and safety of robenacoxib with meloxicam (also a preferential COX-2 inhibitor with a longer half-life) in controlling perioperative pain and inflammation associated with orthopedic surgery in cats. In this multicentered, prospective, randomized, blinded study, 101 cats (Group 1) received subcutaneous robenacoxib (2 mg/kg) preoperatively, followed by oral robenacoxib (1.0-2.4 mg/kg) for 9 days postoperatively. Group 2 cats(n = 46) received 0.3 mg/kg meloxicam SC preoperatively, followed by placebo tablets for 9 days postoperatively. (Meloxicam was not registered for postoperative use in cats.) Rescue analgesics were given as needed. Cats were assessed using numerical rating scales preoperatively, acutely postoperative, and at the final visit (day 10). A single preoperative robenacoxib injection was found statistically equivalent (“noninferior”) to meloxicam in efficacy. During the follow-up period, no significant difference in outcome was found between groups, and no significant differences were noted in reported adverse events, clinical observations, hematology, or clinical chemistry. The authors concluded that robenacoxib is noninferior to meloxicam in controlling pain and inflammation associated with orthopedic surgery in cats. All authors were employees of Novartis Animal Health, now owned by Elanco Animal Health, which manufactures and distributes robenacoxib (Onsior).