Chronic Pain in Cats

Cats are masters at hiding their pain, especially chronic pain. Cats are classified as predators, but they are also prey to other carnivores. Evolutionarily-speaking cats would be vulnerable to predation if they allowed weakness to show. This is one of the reasons why you rarely see cats limping, and yet 90% of cats over 12 years of age have some form of osteoarthritis.

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What are the most common sources of pain?

1.    Osteoarthritis is number one.
2.    Any of the diseases that end in “itis.” For example, pancreatitis, gastritis, etc.

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What are some of the signs of pain?

1.    Changes in behavior

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Hiding
Irritability- growling, scratching, biting, crying, or distress when picked up or touched.
Urinating or defecating outside the litter box
Grooming less or excessively grooming a particular site
Decreased appetite

2.   Changes in activity

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Jumping/climbing less
Sleeping more/sleeping in a hunched position
Reluctant to do stairs/bunny hops with rear legs
Trouble rising
Playing less  

3.    Changes in appearance

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Unkempt coat
Weight loss
Dull eyes/expression
Ears out to the side
Gait-stiffer, slower, abnormal

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 What can be done to alleviate pain?

1.  Diets- Joint diets, specific organ system diets
2. Supplements- Omega 3 Fatty Acids; Polysulfated glycosaminoglycan; neutraceuticals

3. Environmental modifications
Ramps/step-ups; safety zones; low-lipped litter boxes; easily accessed food, water, and litter boxes.

4. Alternative Methods
Acupuncture; Physical therapy; Massage; Laser; Pulsed Electromagnetic Therapy

5. Medications
-Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatories: Meloxicam, Robenacoxib
-Gabapentin
-Buprenorphine
-less used: Amitriptyline, Amantadine, Tramadol
-potentially pending: nerve growth factor or monoclonal antibodies

Here are a couple of websites to help you identify and care for cats in pain:

https://www.zoetisus.com/oa-pain/feline-oa-pain.aspx

https://painfreecats.org/

*Always contact your veterinarian before instituting any treatments for your cats.*

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