Content
- Signs of pain associated with arthrosis
- How do I know if my cat has osteoarthritis pain?
- Lack of cleanliness and of marking territory
- Protrusion of the nictitating membrane (we see a white membrane in the eye)
- Sialorrhea (excess saliva)
- Aggressiveness
- excessive vocalization
- Pain relief postures (positions that reduce pain)
We tend to think that cats are very hardy animals. Many of us almost attribute supernatural powers to them, like saying that cats have seven lives. However, the reality is very different: cats are masters in the art of concealing pain signals. Due to this peculiarity, it is difficult to see that the cats are suffering.
This PeritoAnimal article is intended to help you recognize pain in cats although, as with all animals, this will always vary from cat to cat. So how do I know if my cat is in pain? Keep reading and discover these 10 Signs of Pain in Cats.
Signs of pain associated with arthrosis
One of the main causes of pain in cats is arthrosis, a condition that, as with humans, consists of a articular cartilage wear. A cat with pain caused by atosis will show the following signs:
- reluctance to move (not wanting to move): Many cats with pain from muscle and skeletal problems avoid moving as much as possible. But at a certain age, the tendency to move around enough may be indicating that the cat is suffering from osteoarthritis rather than that it is "apathetic." Unlike cats, dogs "warn us" that they suffer from the problem due to the daily walks we take with them, moments in which any discomfort when walking becomes evident. Cats choose to suppress what causes them pain, not climbing on their favorite furniture, for example, and limit their wandering indoors.
- Depositions outside the sandbox. Those who regularly deal with cats associate this with a punishment for our absence or moving furniture, for example. But often, our feline cannot access the litter box due to pain. That's why a physical examination of the cat with a veterinarian is essential, before thinking that its behavior has apparently changed for no reason.
- Extension of rest times. The last of the signs of pain in cats related to osteoarthritis is that they settle for long periods of time in their beds or other resting places. It is customary not to give importance to the theme if we have old cats, because we think they are already a certain age and that they always enjoyed taking their naps a lot. It is important to emphasize that they spend between 14 and 16 hours a day resting, but if they do it at times they didn't before, it could be a sign of pain.
How do I know if my cat has osteoarthritis pain?
We can observe a cat with osteoarthritis pain mainly by noticing its current behavior and assessing whether anything has changed, so you will be able to get a lot of clues. For example, if the cat used to jump to the table as soon as it saw food, jump to the scratching box or run every night around the house and now takes some time without doing so, it will be time to resort to visiting the veterinarian.
Lack of cleanliness and of marking territory
When a cat feels discomfort, one of the daily routines that is most affected is, without a doubt, its hygiene. However, it's not the only thing we need to pay attention to to find out if the cat has any pain.
- Lack of cleanliness: there are cats more meticulous than others in their daily hygiene, but if our cat used to spend some time cleaning himself and if lately he's been a little careless in this aspect, it could be a sign of discomfort. The fur is dull, bristly, and even a little coarse.
- Does not mark territory: marking territory daily, such as sharpening the nails and rubbing the jaws, is one of the habits that can be affected or suppressed if the cat feels any pain.
Protrusion of the nictitating membrane (we see a white membrane in the eye)
Cats and dogs have a whitish membrane that we can call the "third eyelid", although its name is nictitating membrane. Under normal conditions it is not seen, but when the cat is listless, in pain or feverish, we can see it in the feline with its eyes open, these symptoms being clear signs that something is not right and it is one of the ways to know if my cat is in pain.
This article on cat with stomach pain: causes and solutions may be helpful for you.
Sialorrhea (excess saliva)
Often the reasons that lead to a cat in pain are related to changes in the mouth and, although the feline maintains a more or less normal attitude and is interested in food, it is impossible for him to swallow. This causes the constant outflow of saliva and numerous trips to the feeder, although he cannot eat properly.
Also check out what can be a lump in a cat's belly in this other PeritoAnimal article.
Aggressiveness
It can also be common in behavior problems or stress, but some cats react aggressively to certain stimuli such as pain sign (for example, a cuddling), manifesting behaviors that appear to be attacking.
If your cat used to be affectionate and docile and now has a skittish attitude when you try to interact with her, go to the vet to rule out any health problems.
excessive vocalization
There are more "talkative" cats, for example the Siamese. But if the cat meows more often than usual and for no apparent reason, it could be an alert that something is happening and it's a cat in pain. It used to be one more emotional pain sign, but sometimes it can be related to physical pain.
Pain relief postures (positions that reduce pain)
It is not exclusive to dogs, although it is in them and in other animals that we usually see them. Cats are more discreet when it comes to showing signs of pain, but when it becomes more intense, we can find our own curved cat, or on the contrary, stretched out with the forelegs as if it were a continuous awakening.
Just as when we humans feel cramps in our abdomens and tend to curl up, we can find our feline adopting the same positions. They are usually visceral doses and the changes in this case are usually noticed before the feline has to adopt these postures.
These easy-to-see details can help us to identify the signs of pain in the cat. As always, each cat is a world, and just as there are no humans alike, there are no two equal ways of manifesting pain in cats or any other being.
With these brief advices from PeritoAnimal, and the data that can be collected on a daily basis (lack of appetite, problems with urination, etc.), the veterinarian will be able to define the opportune exams in order to relieve the cat's pain.
And now that you've taken the guesswork out of knowing if your cat is in pain, this other article on the most common cat illnesses might interest you.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.