How will I know if my senior cat is in pain?

That could be a tough one with cats. They're very secretive. They're both a predator species and a prey species, so they are kind of hardwired to hide pain or weakness. Many times pain will be manifested more subtly—you're not often going to find a cat yowling or crying in pain. Most of the time, what you'll find is that they're not as interactive, and they tend to hide more. Sometimes you'll notice that they are limping, but a lot of times, that is a later sign. So things to watch for would be hiding more, but also hesitance to jump. If they're not getting on the couch or the counter or being a general nuisance as my kit so often is, then that could be an indication that the kitty's not feeling well.

Another thing that we can see is abnormal grooming patterns. Sometimes kitties with chronic bladder issues will start to groom their belly, or cats with arthritis will begin to groom their rump or not want to be touched on their rump. So always check in with us if there are any behavior changes because we may be able to help you figure out what's going on.

Cats display pain in many different ways. It's not always obvious, but signs can include licking an area excessively, limping, or changes in behavior. Cats may not vocalize pain, especially with chronic or slowly developing conditions like arthritis. If they struggle to use the litter box or choose different areas in the house, or their mood changes, these could indicate pain. A physical exam and palpating the areas of the body is usually the best way to tell.