Feline Signs of Pain

Cats and dogs show their pain in different ways. Cats tend to become quiet and withdrawn and are extremely good at hiding pain. Remember that there is a range of pain from discomfort to extreme and the more subtle the pain the more discreet the signs. The subtle signs that there many be some early discomfort includes...
1. Decrease Jump height. A cat who once jumped from the floor to the counter now prefers to use a chair to get. Here is a list of signs to watch for if you are unsure if your cat is in pain.
2. "The Jerk" As a cat approaches the counter or bed he/she should jump without hesitation. Often with arthritis we will see the hesitation, the mild stutter before actually jumping.
3. "The Cupboard Slide" which is seen when a cat is jumping down and slides his paws down along the cupboard to get as close to the floor as possible before jumping.
4. Behaviour Change One of our warning signs as veterinarians is the cat's history and when we hear, "my cat is getting old and/or doesn't play anymore" we worry about pain commonly associated with arthritis.
Clinical signs may vary between cats and so different cats will show different signs. Some other signs of less subtle pain include:
- Almond shaped eyes caused by facial tension
- Droopy head
- Droopy ears
- Tucked tail
- Does not want to play
- Lack of social interaction with owners, visitors, other pets
- Does not enjoy playing with toys or usual activities
- Subtle lack of alertness (early) gradually increasing to a deep apathy
- Diminished appetite
- Body tension
- Facial tension
- Accepting treats or food gingerly
- Lack of interest in walks, swimming, chasing the ball
- Doesn’t respond when called
- Worried or sad facial expression
- Ears pulled back or flattened
- Eyes wide open to expose “whites of eyes”
- Avoidance of direct eye contact, when talking to them
- Lips slightly retracted in a “grin”
- Whiskers pulled back against cheeks caused by facial tension
- Shifts frequently while resting
- Difficulty getting up
- Excessive panting (particularly when not hot)
- Head held abnormally low
- Shivering/trembling/shaking
- Unsettled
- Pacing
- Difficulty moving after a long rest
- Difficulty laying down
- Slow or abnormal gait
- Limping - note this is a rare sign for arthritis
- Hunched back
- Compulsive licking or rubbing of certain body part
- Looking at sides or other body part suddenly and/or worriedly
- Suddenly running away from “nothing in particular”
- Can’t jump on bed or couch
- Reluctance to lie down
- Sleeps in a position that avoids a certain body part from touching ground or bed
- Purplish tongue colour (not gums)
- “Guards” a certain part of body
- Reluctance to touch
- Reluctance to be picked up
- Isolating themselves from other family members
- Disinterested in surroundings
- Unusual attention seeking
- Unusual aggressive behaviour in an otherwise docile pet
- Refusal to eat
- Clenching of teeth, biting down on an object
- Urinating or defecating in house, where normally would not happen
If you are seeing these signs, or have concerns of other symptoms, please call 604-854-2313 or email us at FVAH@live.ca and we will help you with your cat’s comfort.
|