Safe Pain Relief for Cats

A pain-free cat is a happy cat. As a cat owner, you should be able to identify the signs of pain in your cat, keeping in mind that cats are unlikely to cry out when they are in pain. This is natural, as animals who are ill in the wild are vulnerable to their prey. Therefore, you must know the signs and know how to treat the pain.

  1. Identify That Your Cat is in Pain

    • You know your cat better than anyone. If you notice your cat̵7;s appetite has changed, it is losing weight and is less active, it is no longer socializing or it is having accidents, your cat may be in pain. You may also notice your cat stopped grooming itself, or it may excessively groom the location of the source of its pain.

    Common Pain Ailments

    • Arthritis presents in cats with stiffness and limping. You may also notice your cat favors one side after waking up. Trauma to a limb, infection or a disorder of the immune system can all contribute to the development of arthritis.

      Your cat also may experience pain associated with cancer. If you notice your cat has increased difficulty breathing or going to the bathroom, it may have cancer. Additional symptoms include swelling, weight loss and loss of appetite, bleeding or discharge, and loss of stamina. See your veterinarian if your cat exhibits these symptoms.

      Back and neck pain can be caused by nerve or muscle damage. You may notice posture changes, as well as an unwillingness to turn its head.

      Your cat may also contract a urinary tract infection. Your cat may experience pain when urinating and abdominal pain. See your vet for a urinalysis and a vaginal smear.

    Pain Treatment

    • NSAIDs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, can be prescribed to treat your cat̵7;s arthritis or back pain. Butazolidin and Rimadyl can be hidden in your cat̵7;s food. Your cat can also receive an injection of Metacam

      To treat a urinary tract infection in your cat, your vet will prescribe antibiotics, which will eliminate the pain and the infection.

      You can also purchase nutritional supplements or nutraceuticals to strengthen your cat̵7;s body tissue and repair tendons and joints that cause your cat to ache. Glucosamine and chondroitin, for example, ease arthritis pain

      Steroid shots may be given to your cat as a treatment on a short-term basis as an anti-inflammatory. Massage therapy and acupuncture are also emerging as pain treatments for cats̵7; sore muscles. Acupuncture has also been used for treating pets̵7; constipation, nerve damage and arthritis. Treatments can last from 10-30 seconds, and your vet may recommend one-two sessions per week. Effects of acupuncture treatment may take up to three sessions to present.

      To improve the quality of your terminally ill cat̵7;s life, your vet may prescribe opioids like morphine and Demerol. Rarely prescribed for cats, these controlled substances treat cats that have cancer.