Cats and Pain: Did you know that cats master the ability to hide pain?
Did you know that cats master the ability to hide pain?
Yes, cats are predators, but they are also prey, so they have to hide the pain to avoid being captured or left aside by their peers.
That said, how do you identify that your cat is in pain and manage the situation?
First, you have to know your cat well, what its habits are, and what it likes to do. Any subtle change in their normal behaviour might be suspect.
Cats like to climb; they have zoomies; they play with toys at different heights; they hide in high places to keep everything under control (literally); their ears and tail move around according to their surroundings, meaning noises, smells, movement…
Some cats follow commands, vocalise with their tutors, lie down in “uncomfortable” ways… When you notice they stop those behaviours, you should be alert.
A cat in pain might:
Not climb anymore, not even to the couch;
They sometimes can’t go in and out of their litter tray and end up eliminating on the floor;
Lose apetite;
Reduce activity and interest;
They might sit still for several hours crouched, squint their eyes slightly, their ears are flattened, more parallel to the ground;
Pretend to sleep when they are just avoiding interaction;
Hiding more and avoiding physical contact;
They stop grooming or, eventually, groom certain areas excessively;
Hiss or attack when touched in certain areas;
Hissing and increased irritability in general;
Start acting aggressively suddenly despite being friendly before;
On the other hand, some other cats might become excessively clingy or vocalise more than usual;
Call for help to go down or to reach some surfaces…
You should know your cat well before you jump to conclusions, but if several of these signs are present, your cat might, in fact, not just have decided to be moody or, on the other hand, needy; it might be in serious discomfort, so just go book a check-up.
If it’s not related to his physical health, we can chat about his behavioural changes in a consultation 🩺
References:
Horwitz, D. F., & Mills, D. S. (Eds.). (2009). BSAVA manual of canine and feline behavioural medicine (2nd ed.). British Small Animal Veterinary Association.
Steagall, P. V., & Monteiro, B. P. (2019). Acute pain in cats: Recent advances in clinical assessment. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 21(1), 25–34. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X18808103
Feline Veterinary Medical Association. (2024). How do I know if my cat is in pain? Feline pain management [Brochure]. https://catfriendly.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/FelineVMA-Pain-Management_Web.pdf
