Many cat parents assume they would know if their kitty was in pain. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Your cat has a strong instinct to hide pain or illness because showing pain in the wild would make them vulnerable to predators and competitors.

Unfortunately, by the time your cat is meowing persistently or showing physical signs of difficulty moving, the pain has likely reached elevated levels. Therefore, it's important to notice more subtle changes in your cat's behavior that can indicate pain or stress.

These include: 

• A change in litter habits or having "accidents."
• Eating or drinking less.
• Difficulty chewing or swallowing.
• Excessive grooming in one area.
• A hunched posture.
• Reluctance to jump up to, or jump down from their normal spots.
• Uncharacteristic hiding.
• A change in personality.

We first need to find out why your cat is in pain. Is it arthritis? Infection? Trauma? Or a disease? We check for these problems with diagnostics such as blood work, x-rays, and ultrasound. Only you know your cat's normal behavior. If you notice these or other sudden changes, be sure to call us.

Fortunately, we have many options for pain control. We have to be careful with certain medications in cats. Pain control in cats may include medication such as glucosamine, opioids, and occasionally, NSAIDs. We also have herbal supplements, diet, and options such as Therapy Laser, and Acupuncture.