Does purring mean my cat isn't in pain?

No. Cats often purr when they're content, but some also purr when they're stressed, unwell or in pain. Look at the whole picture: posture, face, appetite and activity.

Can I give my cat painkillers from my medicine cabinet?

Never. Paracetamol (acetaminophen) can be fatal to cats even in small amounts, and ibuprofen and aspirin can cause serious kidney and stomach damage. Only give pain relief your vet has prescribed for your cat.

Is it normal for an older cat to stop jumping?

It's common, but it isn't just old age. Reluctance to jump is one of the most typical signs of arthritis in cats, which is very common in seniors and can be treated.

What is the Feline Grimace Scale?

It's a scoring tool developed by veterinary researchers that rates five features of a cat's face (ears, eyes, muzzle, whiskers and head position) to assess pain. Owners can use it as a guide to share observations with their vet.

How to Tell if Your Cat Is in Pain

This article is general information, not veterinary advice. If your pet seems unwell or you are worried, call your vet.

In the wild, a cat that looks weak becomes a target, so cats evolved to keep pain to themselves. That instinct is still running in the cat on your sofa. By the time a cat is obviously limping or crying, they may have been uncomfortable for a while.

The trick is to notice small changes from your cat’s normal. You know their habits better than anyone, and that’s exactly what your vet needs.

Step 1: Watch the everyday habits

Most pain shows up first as a change in routine. Check these four areas:

Eating and drinking. Eating more slowly, dropping food, chewing on one side, preferring soft food over crunchy, or drinking noticeably more or less.
Activity. Less play, more hiding, sleeping in new or unusual places, or skipping favorite high perches.
Litter box. Straining, crying, going outside the box, missing the edge, or changes in the size or number of clumps.
Grooming. Over-grooming one spot (sometimes leaving bald patches on the belly or legs), or under-grooming that leaves the coat greasy, matted or scruffy, especially along the back.

Any sudden change in one of these is worth a closer look.

Step 2: Read posture and movement

Hunched or tucked. Sitting in a tight “loaf” with feet tucked, back arched and head low, often facing a wall.
Stiffness. A careful, stiff walk, a lowered tail, or hesitating before jumping up or down.
Restlessness. Repeatedly getting up and lying down, unable to settle.
Guarding. Tensing, flinching, growling or walking away when you touch a particular area, such as the back, hips or belly.

Step 3: Look at the face

Researchers developed the Feline Grimace Scale to help vets assess pain from a cat’s expression. You can use the same five features at home as a guide:

Feature	Relaxed	Possible pain
Ears	Upright, facing forward	Pulled apart and rotated outward
Eyes	Open	Squinting or narrowed
Muzzle	Relaxed and round	Tense, flattened or more elliptical
Whiskers	Loose and curved	Straight and pulled forward or stiff
Head	Held above the shoulders	Level with or lowered below the shoulders, chin tucked

The more of these you see together, and the longer they last, the more likely your cat is uncomfortable. A cat who is simply sleepy may squint, so look at your cat while they’re awake and not being handled. Snap a few photos to show your vet.

Step 4: Listen

Some cats become unusually vocal, growling, hissing or yowling, especially at night or when they jump, use the litter box or are picked up. Others go quiet. A normally chatty cat who stops talking is also a change worth noting.

Step 5: Keep a short pain diary

For two or three days, jot down morning and evening notes: appetite, litter box output, jumping, grooming, mood and anything that seems to trigger discomfort. Videos of your cat walking, jumping and getting up are especially useful because many cats behave normally at the clinic.

Common causes of pain in cats

Dental disease

Very common, and easy to miss because cats keep eating. Clues include bad breath, drooling, dropping food, chewing on one side and pawing at the mouth.

Arthritis

Extremely common in older cats and widely underdiagnosed. Clues include not jumping onto furniture, using steps instead of leaping, matted fur along the lower back, missing the litter box edge and stiffness after rest.

Urinary problems

Straining, frequent trips, small clumps and crying in the litter box. In male cats, straining with little or no urine can mean a blockage, which is an emergency.

Injuries

Limping after a jump or fall, flinching when touched, swelling, or hiding more than usual.

After surgery

Restlessness, licking at the incision, poor appetite or reluctance to move. Follow the discharge instructions and call the clinic if pain seems uncontrolled.

Make your cat comfortable while you arrange a vet visit

Bring things down to their level. Add a step or stool to favorite perches and the bed, and offer a low-sided litter box.
Offer soft food, slightly warmed, if chewing seems to bother them.
Create a quiet retreat that’s warm, draft-free and away from other pets and household traffic.
Handle gently and don’t force an examination. Resistance is information in itself.
Never give human medication. Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is extremely toxic to cats, and ibuprofen and aspirin can be dangerous too. Only use pain relief your vet prescribes.

Cats in pain are very treatable. Vets have cat-safe pain medications and can combine them with dental treatment, weight management, joint-friendly diets and home changes.

When to call the vet

Book an appointment for any ongoing change in eating, activity, grooming or litter box habits, or if your cat seems uncomfortable when touched.

Seek emergency care right away if your cat:

Has trouble breathing, breathes with an open mouth, or has pale or bluish gums
Suddenly can’t use their back legs or cries out in pain, which can be a sign of a blood clot
Strains in the litter box and produces little or no urine
Vomits repeatedly, collapses, or has had a fall or other trauma
Stops eating and drinking