Cat in pain when touched on side

It can be easy to miss the signs your cat is sick; they don't all resemble the colds that people contract from time to time. Cats have a tendency to hide their pain, making it difficult to properly care for them when they need it the most. But if you know what to look for, you can recognize cat pain symptoms early and get your kitty the help they need.

Why Cats Hide Their Pain

The tendency cats have to disguise their discomfort is believed to be an evolutionary holdover from their days in the wild, where illness or injury paints a target on their back to nearby predators. Not only would the appearance of weakness make a wild cat more vulnerable, but it would also put them in danger of being bullied or abandoned by their group.

Although today's domestic cats generally don't have to worry about becoming prey, they may view other pets in the house–or even other people–as competition for resources like food and water. Whether driven by a deeply ingrained instinct or by overprotective kitty logic, cats worry that showing signs of pain will cause them to lose out to a more deserving animal, encouraging them to mask their symptoms.

Common Cat Pain Symptoms

• Hiding
• Sitting still and hunched up
• Loss of interest in people, other pets, or activities
• Neglecting to groom themselves, or over-grooming in one spot
• Purring, excessive meowing, or unusual vocalizations
• Restlessness or aggression toward friendly surroundings
• Doing their business outside the litter box

Kitties in pain might also show a loss of appetite, unusual vomiting, clingy behavior, or other noticeable changes in personality and demeanor. A cat experiencing chronic pain, such as arthritis, might stop using the litter box altogether because it's too difficult to climb into. For this reason, they may also stop climbing or jumping onto the high perches of their cat tree.

How Your Vet Can Help

If your kitty is overweight, your vet might also place them on a weight-management food, especially if they're experiencing chronic joint pain. Certain joint supplements can help maintain their mobility too, but you may ultimately want to explore a therapeutic food to help manage an underlying condition.

One thing you should never do for your kitty is to administer over-the-counter pain medications, which could be very toxic to feline digestive systems. You should also check with your vet regarding any supplements you plan to give them to make sure they're safe. The vet might also prescribe mood-stabilizing drugs to help your sick cat cope with both the pain and accompanying changes in their lifestyle.

How You Can Help

Back at home, consider relocating their bed, food dishes, water bowls, and litter box so they're easier for them to get to. Make sure the litter box is simple enough to climb in and out of as well. If you have a model with a lid or deep sides, for instance, you might need to replace it with an open, shallower structure, and keep it scooped clean more frequently to be more accommodating. Also, preventing other pets or children from trying to play or roughhouse with them is a good idea,

Of course, the best medicine is preventive. Annual vet checkups and a well-balanced food will go a long way toward preventing your cat from developing a painful condition.

As a pet parent, you no doubt want your kitty to be healthy for their entire life. Learning to recognize when they're in pain will go a long way to improving your furry companion's quality of life.

Contributor Bio

Jean Marie Bauhaus

Jean Marie Bauhaus is fiction author, freelance writer, and editor living in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She's a pet parent and enthusiast who writes frequently about pets and pet health in her home office, where she is assisted by a lapful of furbabies.

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  How do you tell if a cat is hurt internally?

  Behaviour signs of a cat in pain.

  Reduced appetite..

  Lethargy..

  Decreased interest in positive things like playing, social interaction and exploring outside..

  Being withdrawn and hiding away..

  Appearing lame and experiencing increased sensitivity to touch in specific areas of their body..

  Reduction in movement and activity..

  Why is my cat so sensitive to touch?

  Cats that are sensitive to touch may have a medical problem such as inflammatory polyps, arthritis, dental issues, hip dysplasia, or parasites such as ear mites that might make their ears sensitive to touch. If aggression during petting is a new behaviour, have your cat checked by a veterinarian.

  Why does my cat's stomach hurt when I touch it?

  "Gastroenteritis is most often characterized by vomiting and diarrhea." Many cats will exhibit tenderness when picked up around the abdomen or will resist handling of the stomach and hindquarters. Most cats affected with gastroenteritis will appear less active (lethargic), have a decreased appetite and they may hide.

  What is an indicator that a cat is in pain?

  Signs that your cat is in pain include: Agitation (unsettled, trembling) Cat crying, growling, hissing. Limping or difficulty jumping.