Pain in cats
What is pain?
Pain is an unpleasant signal that something hurts. It is often multifactorial and involves physical and emotional stress. For example, a cat that undergoes a painful procedure such as the lancing of an abscess, will experience physical pain around the inflamed area but may also experience emotional feelings of fear and confusion. Pain is considered a welfare concern so should always be addressed. Pain can be categorised as either acute or chronic.
Acute pain usually occurs for a short period of time because of disease, injury, or a medical procedure or surgery.
Chronic pain is ongoing pain, usually because of a long-term disease such as arthritis.
Signs of pain in cats
Cats are unable to tell us where it hurts or how severe the pain is, so recognising the signs can sometimes be challenging. Often cats will instinctively try to hide signs of pain so it is important to be vigilant so that you can pick up on subtle indicators such as:
Vocalisation
Cats in ongoing chronic pain may become quiet and withdrawn, however, those suffering from intense or sudden acute pain may let you know by the sounds they make. Yowling or growling may, indicate that something is wrong.
Changes in movement
A reluctance to move or change in the way the cat moves can indicate that it is in pain. A leg or paw injury may be noticed by a visible limp, however, in some cases it may be much more subtle. For instance, a change in gait when a cat is going up the stairs such as moving both hind limbs together in a "hopping" motion, may indicate pain or discomfort.
Changes in posture
A painful cat may change the way they carry themselves to try and alleviate some of the pain that they are experiencing. This may be apparent in the way they walk; for instance, they may hunch their backs as they walk to take pressure of other parts of the body. Similarly, if the cat seems tense or hunched as they stand up or jump on/off furniture it could indicate that they are experiencing pain.
Changes in behaviour or demeanour
Pain often causes a change in behaviour or demeanour. Sometimes a cat may seek closeness and comfort; in other instances they may become more aloof, distancing themselves from the family and becoming more withdrawn or less willing to be touched. A change in usual sleeping habits may also indicate that a cat is in pain, for instance they may become more restless because they are unable to get comfortable.
If a cat is experiencing acute pain, possibly from an internal problem, recent injury, or surgery they may try to prevent you from touching the painful area or even show uncharacteristic aggression. You may also notice muscle twinges, shaking or licking/biting at a particular area.
What to do if you think your cat is in pain
It is good practice to conduct regular nose to tail checks on your cat, this will familiarise you with what is ‘normal’ for your pet. You should be looking and feeling around your cat’s body for any sign of injury, swelling, heat, tenderness, lumps, or bumps.
If you have any concerns over your cat’s health, it’s always best to get them checked over by a vet.
Managing pain in cats
There is a variety of licensed medications available to treat and manage pain in cats, that can be prescribed by your vet. It is important to adhere to the prescription instructions given by your vet to ensure the drug can work effectively and to prevent unintended adverse reactions to the medication.
Your vet may also recommend short or long-term lifestyle changes to help alleviate pain, this may include limiting exercise or making home adaptions to help make your animal more comfortable.
If your cat is undergoing surgery, it is very likely that the vet will build pain relief into their anaesthetic plan. Often a pain medication will be administered at the start of the procedure so that it is in the system prior to any painful stimulus, your vet will likely follow on with further pain medication either to be given at the clinic or for you to give at home.