How to know if your cat is in pain
Even though our cats are much more domesticated than some of their distant feline family members, they may still hide their illnesses and/or pain from us. It is a basic survival instinct that helped keep predators from realizing their weaknesses in the wild but now, all it does it potentially delay necessary treatments.
So how do you know if your cat is in pain, and is it chronic or acute?
If your cat is experiencing intense, acute (sudden) pain, you will likely easily determine that they are hurt. However, if your cat is suffering with symptoms of chronic pain (or illness), understand that this can be something that can be hidden for long periods of time. Chronic pain can also impact cats long-term at an emotional level, causing them distress and even making them less resilient to healing.
An example of acute pain: Your cat injures her paw and has obvious trouble walking on it, is very vocal and is reluctant to let you touch her paw. You can easily determine that she is in pain and that a visit to your veterinarian is in order.
An example of chronic pain: Your cat has a more chronic condition, such as dental disease or arthritis, and may show very little indication that he is in pain. The changes will happen slowly over a long period of time and you may easily miss the decline and/or change in their health and daily activities. Your cat may only display signs when the pain reaches a high level of intensity. This is when it becomes vital to recognize even the slightest change in their behavior.
When is it time to go to the vet?
Let’s face it, nobody wants to spend their days not feeling well or in pain. Neither does your cat. The regret cat owners feel lies in not going to the vet when they should have rather than going and finding out nothing is wrong with their cat. Remember that. One thing I have learned in this profession is that people know their animals. They may not even know what is wrong but they know SOMETHING is wrong. Listen to that voice. It may be something as simple as allergies but in knowledge exists power…and peace.
Never ignore obvious signs of illness or pain in a cat and remember we often become aware of pain or illness in our cats after it has been ongoing for some time. When in doubt, always contact your veterinarian or visit your nearest emergency hospital.
Is it an emergency?
Any trauma is an emergency. Difficulty breathing (open mouth breathing is a big red flag in cats), sudden inability to walk, pale/white/blue gums, collapse/unconsciousness/unresponsiveness, seizure, dizziness/imbalance/circling, moderate to profuse bleeding, exposure to, or ingestion of, a toxin, a urinary blockage (inability to urinate), ingestion an unsafe object, severe pain, and not eating for 24 hours are just a few reasons to visit your nearest emergency hospital.
Show your cat extra love by scheduling routine visits with your regular veterinarian. It can aid in identifying any illnesses and chronic issues early, keeping your cat healthy and feeling like doing all of the normal cat things that bring us so much joy!
