Is my cat in pain? Vet Darren Partridge explains signs to look out for
September 7, 2022
Did you know that September is Animal Pain Awareness Month? In this article, our Vet Darren Partridge is examining a firm favourite of our pet-loving nation – cats. Keep reading to understand why spotting pain in cats can be tricky, and the tell-tale signs to look out for that show your cat needs veterinary attention.
If you have any concerns about your cat after reading our article, book a consult at our Park Road vet practice.
Cats are amazing creatures and have adapted in ways that can hide the most painful feelings they experience. Because of the ancestry of cats, showing pain or weakness in a wild environment could leave them vulnerable, so they would hide these feelings.
Now, obviously pet cats do not live in the wild, but they still express many of the same behaviours. As a nod to Animal Pain Awareness Month, Darren and the team at Molesey Vets want to help pet owners understand how to identify pain in their cats.
How to spot pain in cats
When humans are in pain or discomfort, we can verbalise and show physically what and where the problem is. Cats are limited in these ways and given their nature are less inclined to draw attention to pain. Therefore, many signs and symptoms can be difficult to spot because they don’t want you to know!
Darren and our East Molesey clinical team have pulled together a list of:
12 signs you may see in your cat that can indicate pain
- Increased vocalisation
- Behaviour changes
- Lameness/subtly shifting weight onto other legs
- Biting the area or overgrooming
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
- Lack of interest
- Reluctance to interact
- Reluctance to be touched
- Swelling/redness
- Sleeping more than normal
- Not wanting to move much
There are many different types and causes of pain. Some pain can be more subtle, chronic pain can gradually increase, and then there is more intense acute pain. If you notice any of the above symptoms it is important to speak to your Vet to make sure your cat is not quietly suffering in pain.
One of the ways that musculoskeletal pain in cats can be treated is physiotherapy. At Molesey Vets, we offer feline physiotherapy with Sam Buss – a Registered Veterinary Nurse and Veterinary Physiotherapist (Accredited with the IVRAP and IAAT) with a particular interest in Osteoarthritis management. Learn more about cat physiotherapy here.
We are here if you need us. Contact us to book a cat check-up with Darren or another of our highly skilled Vets as soon as possible.
