How do I know if my cat is in pain?

Watch for changes in behavior: jumping less, a matted or unkempt coat, hiding, a hunched posture, squinting, going outside the litter box and eating less. Cats rarely cry out, so these quiet changes are the signs.

Can I give my cat anything for pain?

Not without a veterinarian. Human painkillers are dangerous to cats, and acetaminophen can be fatal. A vet can prescribe pain relief made for cats and set the dose.

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Is my cat in pain?

A cat in pain usually looks like a cat who has got old: jumping less, grooming less, sleeping more. Tick what you have seen in the last few weeks.

Movement

Grooming

Face and posture

Behavior

Litter box and eating

Ticked

in 0 of 5 areas

Nothing ticked. Go through the list with your cat in mind, including the small things you have put down to age.

This tool organizes what you have noticed. It can't examine your pet, and its result is not a diagnosis or veterinary advice. Take what it shows to your vet; if your pet is in distress, go to an emergency clinic now. Full disclaimer

How to read it

Cats are built to hide weakness, so a cat in pain rarely limps or cries. What changes is what they do: fewer jumps, a scruffier coat, a new sleeping place, a tense face. Owners usually put it down to age.

None of these signs proves pain. A matted coat can be arthritis, dental disease or weight; missing the litter box can be a sore back or a urinary problem. The list tells your vet where to look.

If you can, take a short video of your cat walking, jumping and using the stairs at home. Most cats freeze at the clinic, and the video shows what the exam cannot.

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