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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Cats often hide discomfort, so pain may show up as a change in everyday habits rather than an obvious cry or limp. Watch for differences from your cat’s usual behavior across eating, movement, grooming, sleep, litter-box use, and social interaction. These signs can have several causes and cannot diagnose pain on their own; contact your veterinarian about concerning changes.
Ten signs your cat may be in pain
Compare your cat with their own baseline, not with an idea of how every cat should act. A small but persistent change can matter, and one sign alone does not establish that pain is the cause.
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1. Eating less or losing interest in food
A noticeable change in appetite may be a clue that something is wrong, including possible pain. Pay attention to whether your cat is eating less than usual or showing less interest in meals.
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2. Hiding or withdrawing
A cat who starts spending more time alone, hides more often, or interacts less than usual may be uncomfortable. Cats can become reclusive when they are not feeling well.
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3. Moving or playing less
Notice whether your cat is less active, plays less, or seems less willing to exercise or interact. Reduced activity can be subtle, especially when it develops gradually.
4. Hesitating to jump or use stairs
Reluctance to jump onto or down from familiar surfaces, climb stairs, or move through familiar spaces can accompany chronic pain. A change in how readily your cat gets around is worth noting.
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5. Stiffness, limping, or difficulty walking
Slow or stiff movement, limping, difficulty standing, or holding up or not using a limb can indicate discomfort. These observations do not reveal the cause; share them with your veterinarian.
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6. Grooming less
If your cat is grooming less than usual, movement discomfort may be one possible explanation. A change in grooming habits is useful information to report, especially alongside other changes.
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7. Changes in urination or defecation habits
Changes in elimination habits should be discussed with a veterinarian, but they are not automatically signs of pain. Joint pain can make getting into a litter box or adopting a comfortable position difficult, while other health issues may also change litter-box behavior.
8. A different resting posture or sleep pattern
A hunched or tucked posture, stiffness while resting, a new sleeping position, or choosing unusual places to sleep can be clues. Look for a change from your cat’s normal way of resting.
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9. Squinting or sensitivity to touch
Squinting or reacting more strongly than usual when touched may signal discomfort. Do not press or manipulate an area you suspect is painful; simply note what you observed and tell your veterinarian.
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10. A new temperament or social change
New irritability, aggression, avoidance, or a marked change in sociability can have a health-related cause. Cornell Feline Health Center explains that a cat in pain may act aggressively to avoid touch, movement, or activities that worsen discomfort: Feline Behavior Problems: Aggression.
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How to respond to changes you notice
Contact your veterinarian about concerning changes. Rather than trying to diagnose the cause at home, describe what is different and when you first noticed it. An optional written record can help you keep observations clear.
- Note changes in appetite, activity, jumping, walking, grooming, sleep, litter-box habits, or social behavior.
- Describe the specific behavior and how it differs from your cat’s usual routine.
- Avoid punishing aggression or litter-box changes. They can reflect a health problem, not spite or deliberate misbehavior.
- Do not test a suspected painful area by pressing or moving it.
The Feline Veterinary Medical Association advises caregivers to contact a veterinarian about possible pain and notes that behavior changes can indicate pain or another health problem: Feline Pain Management.
What a veterinarian may assess
A clinical assessment draws on more than a single behavior. International Cat Care describes assessment that may consider a cat’s facial expression, posture and resting position, and response to relevant gentle touch: Cat Carer Guide: Acute Pain. Your observations at home provide context for that assessment, but the signs above cannot identify the cause or severity of pain.
Several of the changes described here—including stiffness, limping, reluctance to jump, reduced play or interaction, altered sleep or posture, and changes in social behavior—are also discussed in the FelineVMA’s guidance on chronic pain: Treating Chronic Pain with NSAIDs. Cornell’s overview of slowing down in cats explains how joint discomfort can affect stairs, litter-box access or positioning, grooming, and social behavior: Is Your Cat Slowing Down?.
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