What are signs of pain in the cat?
A cat’s behaviour and interactions can be unique to the type
of pain it is experiencing. A cat’s reaction to pain is dependent
upon its personality and the degree of pain it is experiencing. The
characteristics listed below do not include everything that you may
see, but the list gives you a general idea of what to look for if
you think a cat is in pain. Some of these characteristics (marked
with an asterisk *) are also things you will see when a cat is anxious
or nervous or in poor health. Items that are in bold print
are the subtle and early signs of pain or poor health you may see
in a cat. Cats are extremely good at hiding their pain until it becomes
almost totally unbearable. Remember that there is
no substitute for being familiar with an individual cat in order to
recognize how it shows pain.
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Posture
 Hunched back with head lowered
Guarding (protecting) the painful
area
Sitting or laying abnormally
Attempting to rest in an abnormal
position (sternal or curled up)
Movement
Stiff
Bearing no or partial weight on affected limb or any degree
of limp
Thrashing
Restless *
Trembling or shaking *
Limited or no movement when
awake *
Slow to rise *
Vocalization
Screaming, yowling, or crying (with acute pain)
Hissing or growling, especially
if you touch a painful area *
Lack of vocalization (no noise of greeting
or wanting to be fed) *
Behaviour
Hyperventilation (rapid shallow breathing)
Agitated *
Poor or no grooming *
Decreased or absent appetite
(associated with weight loss when chronic) *
Dull, sleeping excessively, or noticeably
less active *
Inappropriate urination or defecation,
or not moving away from it *
Acts out of character (aggressive or
playful cats may become docile or quiet) *
Licking wound or surgical site *
Sitting in back of cage or hiding
under blanket *
Retreating to quiet areas of house for
long periods of time *
Vigorous attempts for escape, often
with marked aggression
What causes pain in the cat?
Just like in people, different kinds of stimuli or injury can cause
different levels of pain in the cat. Below are some examples of
things that may cause pain. These items are listed according to
what level of pain characterizes them. This list does not include
all things that cause pain, but it will give you an idea of what
to look for when you are working with cats. Remember that not every
cat reacts the same way, and these categories are not concrete separations
of how pain is felt. We can only try to anticipate, based on clinical
experience, what the cat is feeling.
Irritating or mild pain
Dried blood or urine scald
Clipper burns or cuts
Intravenous (IV) catheterisation
Full bladder, needing to urinate or
defecate
Minor cuts or scrapes
Anal gland evacuation
Surgery or other procedures on the
eyelid (eyelash removal, entropion)
Mild to moderate pain
Endoscopy with biopsy
Dental cleaning with or without tooth extraction
Arterial catheterisation (A-line)
Muscle biopsies
Stabilized fractures of smaller leg bones (tibia/fibula,
radius/ulna)
Surgeries of the lower abdomen (castration, spay, cystotomy)
Moderate to severe pain
Small areas of burns or ulcerations
Corneal ulcers
Eye removal
Surgery of the mid and lower spine, including disc surgery
Declawing procedures
Stabilized fractures of larger leg bones (femur, humerus)
or pelvis
Mastectomy (breast tissue removal)
Surgeries of the upper abdomen (diaphragmatic hernia, abdominal
exploratory)
Severe pain
Large areas of burns or ulcerations
Infections within the abdomen (peritonitis, pancreatitis)
Procedures in the nose (endoscopy)
Leg amputations
Surgery of the chest (opening the chest cavity)
What are some treatments for pain in cats?
Treatments can vary from simple physical therapy to complicated
drug regimens. Working together with your vet and their nurses will
be important in determining the most appropriate treatment plan
for the cats in your care. Remember that there are two major categories
of pain that you will encounter: acute and chronic. Acute pain occurs
with trauma and surgery while chronic pain is associated with things
like arthritis and cancer. The types of therapy you can use will
often depend on whether the cat is experiencing acute or chronic
pain as well as the level or degree of pain. Listed below are some
of the treatments available. Drug classes are followed by examples
of specific drug names in parentheses.
Acute pain treatments (associated with surgery or trauma)
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
or NSAIDS
Steroids (dexamethasone, prednisolone)
Local anesthetics (lidocaine, bupivicaine)
Opiates and their derivatives (morphine,
Torbugesic®, fentanyl patches)
Alpha-2 agonists (Rompun®, medetomidine)
Dissociatives (ketamine)
Acupuncture
Heated cage or warm blankets to prevent
trembling and muscle tension
Plenty of comfortable bedding and
quiet area for recovery
Bandaging or padding for protection
of traumatized tissue
Splinting or support of fractured
legs
Urinary catheterisation for animals
unable to move or urinate normally
General nursing care including cleaning,
grooming, and petting
Chronic pain treatments (associated with arthritis, cancer,
etc.)
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
or NSAIDS
Steroids (prednisolone)
Opiates and their derivatives (morphine,
Torbugesic®)
Tricyclic antidepressants (amitryptiline,
monoamine oxidase inhibitors, benzodiazepines)
Neurectomy or therapeutic surgery
Radiation therapy (cancer)
Acupuncture
physical therapy (massage, range-of-motion
exercises, etc.)
Nutriceuticals (food supplements that
protect bone and cartilage such as glucosamine, etc.)
Heat or cold packs
Comfortable bedding with plenty of
support
General nursing care including cleaning,
grooming, and petting
Weight management for obese animals
with arthritis
If you suspect your cat may be in pain after reading this article
it is advised that you arrange an appointment
with your vet to further discuss the problem.
More information and advice is available on request from the clinic
B G Spolander MRCVS
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