Indications of Pain in a Cat

Since cats cannot tell us that they are sick, it is up to their owners to look for signs. Overall, most cats are very stoic and not willing to show their pain. This trait is probably because an animal displaying weakness in the wild is targeted by predators. Whatever the reasons, cats tend to make their pain a secret; however, they do exhibit certain signs when they are in distress.

  1. Change in Behavior

    • Cats that are in pain will often exhibit behavioral changes. For instance, a kitty in pain may become more vocal than usual and can growl, howl, moan, groan or refuse to purr, states Dr. Rhea Morgan of the Pet Place website. The cat also might act more depressed or agitated than normal and might hide, or it could show aggression toward humans and other animals and also appear restless. If the cat is in distress, it also might sleep more than usual.

      Cats that experience urinary pain will often eliminate in inappropriate places. They probably associate their pain with the litter box and attempt to stay away from it, instead eliminating in other places, such as the floor or furniture.

    Physical Abnormalities

    • If your cat is in pain, it may present physical abnormalities, such as limping, or holding the injured leg or paw off the ground. It also might walk or move stiffly, or refuse to walk up stairs or jump down from objects. Affected felines can also become wobbly or reluctant to move.

      Signs of pain in a cat also include a change in appetite. The feline may eat less than usual or even refuse to eat at all.

    Change in Appearance

    • A cat in pain may simply not look like itself. For instance, some cats will refuse to clean themselves anymore if they do not feel good. This can result in a coat that looks unkempt and dirty. Cats in pain because of arthritis will often stop cleaning themselves, suggests the Cat World website. A painful mouth, perhaps resulting from an infected tooth, might cause the cat to hold its mouth open or drool. If there are issues with the stomach, intestines or other abdominal organs, the cat's abdomen could also become distended.