Things You'll Need
- Glucosamine and chondroitin supplements
- Pain patches
- Pain medication
- Memory foam cat beds
- Blankets
Instructions
Take your cat to the veterinarian if you suspect it is in pain or discomfort to determine the cause of the pain. Cats in pain display signs of panting or gasping for breath, excessive hiding, lethargy, reduced interest in eating and a reduction in social interaction, according to CatHealth. Once you discover the cause of your cat's pain, you can properly treat the cause of it.
Give your cat a supplement containing glucosamine and chondroitin if they have osteoarthritis or hip dysplasia to help ease the pain of these conditions. You can purchase this non-prescription supplement at pet retailers or through your veterinarian. Osteoarthritis in cats causes swollen joints that cause pain due to a break down of cartilage between bones in the joint, causing bone-to-bone contact, according to Doctors Foster and Smith. Glucosamine helps build new cartilage and chondroitin blocks enzymes in the body that break down cartilage. You can give this supplement for the rest of the cat's life or on a shorter term basis, such as three months following joint surgery. Open the glucosamine and chondroitin capsule and mix in canned cat food to feed to your cat daily.
Treat pain from inflammation with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug -- or NSAID -- prescribed by your veterinarian. Your vet will usually prescribe this for a short-term treatment of a condition such as a minor sprain or as a follow-up to certain surgical procedures. The NSAID limits your pet's ability to create certain chemicals that cause inflammation, according to Vetinfo. Common NSAIDS your vet may prescribe include Meloxicam, Butazolidin and Rimadyl. Before prescribing this, your vet will check for liver or kidney problems that would preclude your pet from taking these medications. For liquid medications, use a syringe (without a needle). Place the syringe at the side of your cat's mouth, between the teeth and squirt the medicine into its mouth. For pills, hold open your cat's mouth with one hand, while putting the pill as far back into its mouth as you can. Close your cat's mouth and stroke its chin to cause it to swallow the pill. For chewable tablets, give these to your cat directly to eat or crush them and sprinkle into canned food.
Place a fentanyl pain patch that your veterinarian will give you on your cat's skin if it suffers from painful, chronic conditions such as cancer or after having a surgical procedure. Trim your cat's hair from the side of its chest then apply the pain patch to the area. Usually, your veterinarian will apply the initial patch after surgery or during an examination. Patches generally last for about three days before you need to apply a new one.
Find a holistic veterinarian in your area who will perform acupuncture on your cat. Unlike NSAIDS or narcotics, acupuncture has no serious side-effects and you can continue the treatment long-term to treat your cat's chronic pain. This practitioner may also recommend some herbal remedies or chiropractic treatment for your cat that may assist in pain relief. Administer these medications to your cat as directed.
Make your cat comfortable to ease its pain during an illness or post-surgery. Provide soft cat beds with memory foam for your cat to lay on, or purchase a heated cat bed to give your cat soothing heat therapy to aid in its recovery. Ensure litter boxes have low sides for geriatric cats in pain to easily enter and use. Make sure your cat has free access to food, water and a litter box. Keep your cat on one story of your home to avoid it having to walk up and down stairs in pain.