Pain

Cat resting quietly in soft cosy bed, gentle sympathetic mood, warm amber lighting

Of all the challenges of caring for a cat, pain is one of the hardest to spot. Cats have evolved over thousands of years to conceal weakness — in the wild, showing pain makes an animal vulnerable. That instinct is still very much present in our domestic cats today. A cat can be in significant, ongoing discomfort and give almost no obvious sign of it. Understanding how pain actually shows up in cats — and what to do about it — is one of the most valuable things an owner can know.

Why Cats Hide Pain So Well

Unlike dogs, who often whimper, limp obviously, or seek comfort when in pain, cats tend to do the opposite. They withdraw. They go quiet. They slow down and do less — which is easy to miss, or to put down to laziness or getting older.

This isn't stubbornness. It's biology. A wild animal that appears weak risks becoming prey. Even though your cat's world is a warm sofa and a full food bowl, that ancient instinct to mask vulnerability hasn't gone anywhere.

The result is that by the time a cat shows pain in a way that's obvious to an owner — crying out, refusing to move, visibly limping — the pain has often been present for quite some time. The subtler signs are the ones that matter most, and learning to recognise them is one of the most important things you can do for your cat's wellbeing.

Signs Your Cat May Be in Pain

Pain in cats tends to show up as changes in behaviour rather than obvious physical signs. The key word is change — something that's different from your cat's normal.

Behavioural changes:

Becoming withdrawn, hiding more than usual, or seeking less interaction
Conversely, some cats become more clingy or demand more attention
Seeming irritable, grumpy, or reacting badly to being touched in a way they normally accept
Vocalising more than usual — or becoming uncharacteristically quiet
Changes in sleep patterns

Activity and mobility changes:

Reluctance to jump, climb stairs, or reach a favourite spot they used to go to easily
Moving more slowly or stiffly, especially after rest
Grooming less thoroughly — a painful cat may stop grooming hard-to-reach areas, leading to a matted or unkempt coat
Visiting the litter tray less — or avoiding it if getting in and out is uncomfortable

Eating and drinking changes:

Eating less, eating more slowly, or showing interest in food then walking away
Dropping food, chewing on one side, or avoiding hard food (often a sign of dental pain)
Reduced appetite overall

Physical signs:

A hunched or tense posture, with the body drawn in
Sitting unusually still, reluctant to change position
Rapid or shallow breathing
Flinching or pulling away when a particular area is touched

No single sign confirms pain — but any noticeable change in your cat's normal behaviour is worth paying attention to, and worth mentioning to your vet.

Reading Your Cat's Face — The Feline Grimace Scale

One of the most useful tools for identifying pain in cats is something you can use at home — the Feline Grimace Scale (FGS), a scientifically validated method developed by researchers at the University of Montreal.

The scale works by looking at five specific facial features that change when a cat is in pain:

Ear position — a relaxed cat has upright, forward-facing ears; a cat in pain may have ears that are flattened, turned outward, or pulled back
Eye shape — relaxed cats have open or gently squinting eyes; tightly shut or partially closed eyes can indicate discomfort
Muzzle tension — a pain-free cat's muzzle looks relaxed; a tense or "pinched" expression around the nose and mouth is a warning sign
Whisker position — whiskers normally fan outward; whiskers pulled back against the face or stiffly forward can indicate distress
Head position — a comfortable cat holds their head level with their shoulders; a cat in pain may carry their head lower

Each feature is scored from 0 to 2 — absent, moderate, or present — and a combined score of 4 or more suggests your cat may need veterinary attention.

The Feline Grimace Scale is available as a free app and printable resource at felinegrimacescale.com — it's genuinely worth bookmarking. Note that the scale is designed for acute pain; chronic, long-term pain can be harder to read through facial expressions alone, and ongoing behaviour changes matter just as much.

Acute Pain vs Chronic Pain

Understanding the difference helps you respond appropriately.

Acute pain comes on suddenly — from an injury, a procedure, an infection, or an illness. It tends to be more obvious than chronic pain, though cats still try to conceal it. Signs may include sudden changes in behaviour, flinching or crying out when touched, rapid breathing, or a very hunched posture. Acute pain usually improves as the underlying cause is treated.

Chronic pain develops slowly over time and is much easier to miss. Arthritis is the most common cause of chronic pain in cats — and because the stiffness and discomfort build gradually, cats adjust their behaviour so incrementally that owners often don't notice until the condition is quite advanced. A cat who used to leap onto the worktop and now doesn't may simply have stopped trying rather than failed visibly. Dental pain, internal conditions, and nerve pain can all cause the same slow, quiet decline.

Chronic pain doesn't tend to resolve on its own. If your cat seems less like themselves than they did a year ago — slower, less playful, more withdrawn, less interested in food — it's worth raising with your vet even if you can't pinpoint a specific problem.

What Your Vet Can Do

Pain in cats is very treatable — and modern veterinary medicine has significantly more options than it did even ten years ago. The important thing is getting your cat assessed so the right treatment can be chosen.

Your vet will examine your cat carefully, look for the underlying cause of any pain, and discuss the most appropriate management. Depending on the cause, options may include:

Anti-inflammatory medication — prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) are commonly used for pain relief in cats, particularly for arthritis. These must always be prescribed by a vet — never use dog or human NSAIDs on a cat, as many are highly toxic
Gabapentin — a medication used for nerve pain and in some cats with chronic pain conditions
Solensia (frunevetmab) — a newer monthly injection specifically licensed for feline arthritis pain, which works by targeting the pain signal itself rather than reducing inflammation
Laser therapy — a non-pharmaceutical option used alongside medication for arthritis, chronic pain, and post-surgical recovery
Supplements and dietary support — omega-3 fatty acids and certain joint supplements can support joint health alongside medical treatment
Environmental adjustments — ramps, lower-sided litter trays, heated bedding, and making resources easier to access can meaningfully improve daily comfort

Pain management is an ongoing conversation with your vet, not a one-time fix — particularly for chronic conditions. Regular reviews help ensure your cat is as comfortable as possible over time.

The One Thing You Must Never Do

Never give your cat a human painkiller — not even a small amount, and not even once.

Paracetamol is fatal to cats in even a single tablet dose. Ibuprofen and aspirin are also highly toxic. Cats' livers are simply not equipped to process these medications safely, and the consequences of giving them can be severe and irreversible.

If your cat is in pain, contact your vet — even out of hours. Emergency vets are there for exactly this situation. Your vet can prescribe pain relief that is safe and effective for cats specifically. Getting proper treatment is always the right option, no matter how tempting it might be to reach for something from the medicine cabinet.

If you think your cat has accidentally ingested any human painkiller, treat it as an emergency and contact your vet immediately — don't wait for symptoms to develop.