The changes are usually for the worst, such as eating less, not getting up to greet you, hiding away, or toileting outside the litter box. [3] X Expert Source Natalie Punt, DVMVeterinarian Expert Interview. 15 February 2022. Your cat may also enter and exit their litter box more than usual. [4] X Expert Source Natalie Punt, DVMVeterinarian Expert Interview. 15 February 2022. These changes are not specific for pain, so just because the cat hides away doesn’t automatically mean they are in pain, but it does mean something is wrong and you need to look for other signs and clues as to what the problem could be.
For example the cat in pain may find it difficult to rest and so it paces around instead of curling up to sleep. It may repeatedly settle and then get up again. Or perhaps it adopts one posture and then holds it whilst looking stiff and tense.
Even lack of movement in the ears can signal a problem. The ears would normally move to catch fleeting sounds in the environment. Often a cat in pain has more fixed ears that may well be flattened against its head. If your cat is experiencing skeletal pain, they may not jump as easily as they used to. They also may not want to go up and down stairs, or jump onto your bed. [5] X Expert Source Natalie Punt, DVMVeterinarian Expert Interview. 15 February 2022.
Be alert for a friendly cat, that changes character backs away, arches their back, hairs erect, dilated pupils, ears flattened back, hisses and spits. These are all signs of aggression. Alternatively, you may have a feisty cat who suddenly becomes withdrawn and starts hiding. Indeed, the cat who stops grooming may be in pain.
Look for a worried or tense expression on the cat. This could include a furrowed brow or a vacant stare. The pupils are likely to be large and dilated, whereas a cat at rest in normal lighting conditions should have slit-shaped pupils.
Be aware that purring does not always mean the cat is happy. Purring can comfort the cat and so even a distressed cat may purr to itself in order to feel reassured and a bit better. [7] X Research source
If your cat has had recent surgery, then you will want to be sure it is not in pain while healing. Make sure it is getting the necessary medication to recover without pain.
In addition to pain management, your veterinarian should be treating the underlying cause of the pain. If your vet can’t find the source, go to another vet for a second opinion. Never treat the pain at home with human drugs. Cats metabolize drugs very differently to people and the medication we have in our medicine cabinets can be toxic to cats.
If this is the case consult with your vet about ways to stop the cat from licking or biting itself. One solution is to put a cone on the cat until the pain is eliminated. Sometimes the cat will lick the area that is painful, for example a sore joint, other times it will lick an area that is not the source of pain but is just soothing itself. In these cases the cat may lick an easy to get to spot, such as a paw or its belly.
