Cats are masters of hiding pain. Evolutionarily, showing weakness attracts predators, so cats suppress signs of discomfort in ways that would never work for dogs. The result: a cat can be in significant pain while appearing fine to casual observation.
Here’s what the research says about recognizing feline pain — and when it warrants a same-day vet visit.
Why Cats Hide Pain (And Why It Matters)
A 2016 consensus paper by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) and the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (IVAPM) identified chronic undertreatment of pain in cats as a serious welfare issue — precisely because owners don’t recognize the signs.
Unlike dogs, cats rarely whimper, whine, or cry when in pain. Instead, they withdraw, change their habits, or simply become “less.” That vague shift — “she’s just not herself” — is often the only signal owners notice before a serious problem is well established.
Behavioral Signs of Pain in Cats
These are the changes most likely to indicate your cat is in pain. None of them alone is conclusive, but combinations — especially sudden changes from your cat’s normal behavior — should prompt a vet visit.
Changes in activity and movement:
- Reluctance to jump up (onto the sofa, window perch, or bed) when they used to do it easily
- Moving more slowly or stiffly, especially after sleeping
- Avoiding the litter box or having difficulty entering it
- Hunched posture or standing with their back arched
Changes in social behavior:
- Hiding in unusual places — under the bed, in closets, behind furniture
- Becoming irritable or aggressive when touched, particularly in a specific area
- Avoiding being picked up when they’re normally tolerant of it
- Loss of interest in play or in family activity
Changes in grooming:
- Over-grooming a specific spot (often indicates localized pain in that area)
- Under-grooming: a messy, unkempt coat where the cat has stopped maintaining themselves
- Cats with dental or jaw pain often stop grooming their heads and faces
Changes in eating and drinking:
- Reduced appetite (often a sign of nausea from pain, or dental pain making eating difficult)
- Dropping food while eating, or only eating on one side of the mouth
- Drooling more than usual (dental or oral pain)
Vocalisation:
- Increased vocalisation, especially at night — a significant pain signal, not just “being talkative”
- Growling or hissing when touched somewhere they normally tolerate
- Yowling in the litter box (possible urinary pain)
Physical Signs You Can Observe
Some signs are visible on the cat’s body or detectable to the touch:
- Dilated pupils — especially combined with other signs of distress
- Rapid or shallow breathing — particularly when at rest
- Posture: a hunched back, a low head carriage, or weight shifted off one leg
- Flinching or twitching when you touch a particular area
- The “meatloaf” position — sitting with all feet tucked under, head slightly down — can indicate the cat is in pain and resting in a way that minimizes discomfort
The Feline Grimace Scale
Veterinary researchers developed a validated tool called the Feline Grimace Scale (FGS) to help owners and clinicians identify acute pain in cats. It scores five facial features:
- Orbital tightening (squinting or half-closing the eyes)
- Ear position (flattened or rotated backward)
- Muzzle tension (tight muscles around the nose and mouth)
- Whisker change (whiskers pulled back against the face rather than fanned forward)
- Head position (lowered, chin tucked)
A cat with all five features at maximum intensity is almost certainly in acute pain. You don’t need to memorize the formal scale — but knowing these signals exist helps you notice them. A cat that’s squinting, has flattened ears, and is holding their head low is a cat in pain.
Types of Pain That Are Easy to Miss
Dental pain is among the most underdiagnosed. Many cats with severe dental disease continue eating (driven by hunger) while in significant pain. Dropping food, favoring one side of the mouth, reduced self-grooming, and reluctance to let you touch their face are all signs. Our guide on feline dental health covers this in detail.
Arthritis is another quiet one. At least 60% of cats over age 6 have radiographic evidence of joint changes, according to guidelines from the AAFP and International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM). Most owners don’t recognize it because cats show it differently from dogs — not by limping, but by moving more cautiously, jumping less, avoiding stairs, or eliminating outside the litter box because getting in hurts.
Internal pain (gastrointestinal, urinary, reproductive) can be hardest to spot. Watch for: hiding, loss of appetite, changes in litter box behavior, vocalizing while urinating, or a hunched and tense abdominal posture.
If your cat is a senior, see our dedicated guide on signs of pain in older cats, which covers age-related conditions — particularly arthritis and cancer — in more depth.
When to See a Vet
Same day or emergency:
- Vocalizing in the litter box or straining without producing urine — a potential urinary emergency, especially in male cats
- Fall from a height with abnormal movement or immediate hiding afterwards
- Visibly swollen limbs, abdomen, or face
- Rapid or labored breathing at rest
- Complete inability to get comfortable — pacing, repeatedly shifting positions
Within a few days:
- Unexplained changes in mobility or jumping ability over the past week
- Reluctance to be touched in a specific area
- Significant, unexplained reduction in appetite or activity
The key message from AAFP guidelines is that pain management is a welfare issue, not optional. Cats tolerate undetected pain far longer than owners realize — early recognition and treatment make a meaningful difference to quality of life.