Cats feel pain just as we do, but they can’t tell us where it hurts, and they’re experts at hiding it. Knowing the signs of pain in cats, and knowing what you must never give your cat for pain, can make a huge difference to its health and comfort.
Never give your cat painkillers made for people or dogs. Acetaminophen (paracetamol, Tylenol) can kill a cat, even in a single small dose. Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve) and aspirin are also highly toxic to cats. If your cat has swallowed any human medicine, contact your vet or an animal poison hotline immediately.
Why Pain Relief Must Always Come from Your Vet
Pain relief is an important part of treatment, but painkillers don’t cure anything on their own: they relieve the pain while the vet treats the underlying cause. First, the vet needs to find out why your cat is in pain.
Cats process many drugs very differently from people and dogs. Their livers lack some of the enzymes needed to break down common medicines, so drugs that are safe for us can quickly build up to toxic levels. That’s why only a vet should decide whether your cat needs pain relief, which medicine to use, the dose and for how long. The dose depends on your cat’s weight, age, health and any other medications it takes.
Important: giving the wrong medicine or the wrong dose can be fatal. Never use leftover medicine prescribed for another pet, and never change the dose your vet prescribed without asking.
Conditions That Cause Pain in Cats
Many conditions can be painful for cats, including:
- injuries: fractures, sprains, wounds, bite abscesses and falls;
- arthritis (osteoarthritis), which affects most older cats but often goes unnoticed;
- dental disease, such as tooth resorption and gum disease;
- urinary problems, such as cystitis and urinary blockages;
- ear infections;
- digestive problems, such as constipation, pancreatitis and intestinal blockages;
- recovery from surgery;
- cancer.
Signs That Your Cat Is in Pain
Cats are secretive animals that often show obvious signs of pain only when it’s severe. Watch for subtle changes:
- changes in activity: being much less active, or restless and unable to settle;
- hiding or avoiding people and other pets;
- unusual aggression, or not wanting to be touched or picked up;
- loss of appetite, or refusing favorite treats;
- a hunched posture, or sitting with the head lowered;
- squinting or half-closed eyes;
- reluctance to jump, climb stairs or use high perches;
- limping or stiffness;
- stopping using the litter box, or straining in it;
- grooming less (an unkempt coat), or over-grooming one area;
- drooling;
- fast or labored breathing at rest.
Researchers at the University of Montreal developed the Feline Grimace Scale, a tool vets use to assess pain from a cat’s facial expression: the position of the ears, the eyes, the muzzle, the whiskers and the head. Cats in pain often have flattened ears, squinted eyes, a tense muzzle and whiskers pulled straight or forward.
If you notice any of these signs, take your cat to the vet. Chronic pain from arthritis or dental disease is especially easy to miss, because the changes happen gradually and owners often put them down to “old age.”
How Vets Treat Pain in Cats
Depending on the cause, your vet may prescribe:
- anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) licensed for cats, used carefully and with monitoring, especially in older cats or cats with kidney disease;
- opioid pain relief, often after surgery or injury;
- medications for chronic or nerve pain, which are also sometimes used for arthritis;
- a monthly injection for arthritis pain, which is available in the US, UK and many other countries;
- non-drug treatments, such as weight loss, joint supplements, physical therapy, acupuncture or laser therapy, alongside medication.
Always give pain medication exactly as your vet prescribes. If you have trouble giving it, ask about other forms, such as liquids or injections. Read more: how to give a cat a pill.
How You Can Help Your Cat at Home
Along with the treatment your vet prescribes, you can make your cat more comfortable:
- provide a soft, warm, quiet bed in an easy-to-reach spot;
- for cats with arthritis, add steps or ramps to favorite perches, and use a litter box with a low entry;
- put food, water and the litter box close together on one floor of the home;
- keep your cat at a healthy weight, which takes pressure off sore joints (read more about obesity in cats);
- never use heating pads that get very hot, and never apply ice directly to the skin;
- never use essential oils, herbal remedies or human creams and gels, many of which are toxic to cats.
If your cat’s pain doesn’t seem to improve with treatment, or it seems to get worse, contact your vet. No cat should have to live with pain.
