Identifying pain in your cat

Given that humans share similar pain pathways with our pet companions, it's safe to say that we experience pain in the same ways. What can be painful for humans can be painful for our pets.

Unlike us, however, our pets don't have the benefit of knowing their pain could be temporary and that help is on the way. And they can't tell us in words what they are going through. That's a big reason animals need our help identifying and managing pain. But it's not always easy. Knowing whether our animals are experiencing pain is made even more complicated by their defensive instinct to hide pain, their different personalities, and different pain thresholds.

In order to help your cat, you need to recognise the changes in behaviour that could signal your pet is experiencing pain.

Understanding the differences between
acute and chronic pain

Pain can be classified according to how long it lasts and is generally categorized as either acute or chronic.

• Acute pain is short-lived, temporary discomfort that usually has an identifiable cause (such as injury or surgery), occurs suddenly, and lasts from days to weeks.
• Chronic pain begins gradually, lasts longer than 3 months, varies in intensity from mild to severe, and typically accompanies chronic or degenerative diseases.

In both cases, a cat in pain shows changes in behaviour that — if you look for them — can help you recognise whether your pet is suffering and needs help.

Signs your cat may be experiencing acute pain

After being exposed to a painful event (for example, a bite or the onset of an infection), your cat may react naturally by growling, flinching, crying, or becoming aggressive. Not all pain behaviours are obvious. Some signs associated with acute pain include changes in the following:

• Facial expressions — Dilated pupils or squinting eyes
• Vocalisation — Growling, hissing, moaning, excessive purring, or atypical silence
• Sensitivity of the affected area — Hiding or protecting the painful area or licking or biting the painful area
• Activity levels — Less interest in play or reduced activity (often lying still)
• Attitude — Hiding, avoiding other animals or people, acting aggressively, or excessive comfort seeking
• Appetite — Reduced appetite
• Grooming — Failure to groom

If you notice any of these changes in your cat's behaviour, contact your vet.

Signs your cat may be living with chronic pain

Identifying chronic pain can be more difficult than acute pain. Unlike acute pain that usually stems from an identifiable source, chronic pain develops over time. Because there are few signs of chronic pain in cats and they usually appear alongside natural long-term changes in a cat's behaviour, knowing what to look for can be difficult.

Typical signs include:

• More time spent sleeping
• Inappropriate urination/defecation
• Poor coat
• Less interest in playing/jumping/climbing

If you notice any of these changes in your cat's behaviour, contact your vet.