It’s no secret that your kitten is growing up! As your young cat continues into adulthood, you may see them settle down from the pouncing and rambunctious kitten or young adult into a calm and occasionally playful mature adult. However, changes in behavior can also occur due to pain. You’ll want to be clued in to how pain affects behavior so that you can identify if a change is something to be concerned about.
Behavioral changes of young cats in pain
Cats are known to often be stoic in the face of pain. However, no one is more clued into their cat’s normal behaviors than you! The following are behavioral indications that your cat may be experiencing pain.Changes to appetite
A cat may be reluctant to eat if they have gastrointestinal pain, back/neck pain that prevents them from lowering their head to the food bowl or pain in their mouth. Excessive drooling may also indicate pain in the mouth or gastrointestinal tract. Some cats experiencing pain may overeat as a form of self-soothing.Changes to elimination habits
Cats with musculoskeletal pain, such as arthritis, may struggle to get into the litter box to eliminate. Although you may think of arthritis as an old cat issue, young cats can experience arthritis due to old injuries, infections or congenital abnormalities. Musculoskeletal pain can also occur with sprains, strains and fractures. As a result of the pain they feel when trying to get into the litter box, a young cat may have accidents in the home.A cat with urinary tract pain may eliminate outside of the litter box or repeatedly enter the litter box for elimination. If your cat is yowling in the litter box and/or straining in the litter box, seek emergency veterinary attention.
Excessive hiding
If your cat is spending an excessive amount of time hiding under the bed, behind couches or in hideaway holes, this may be an indication of pain.Reluctance to play
A sudden decrease in playfulness should be investigated as a potential indication of pain.Reluctance to climb, jump or stretch
Cats who have musculoskeletal pain or abdominal pain may not climb their cat trees, jump or stretch up to scratch.Hunched posture
A cat with back or abdominal pain may have a hunched posture.Inappropriate kneading or purring
Cats usually knead and purr when comfortable, but they may also do these behaviors to self-sooth. For example, a cat kneading on a blanket and purring as it curls up to rest is normal. A cat lying under your bed by itself purring and making biscuits may not be normal.Increased aggression
Increased tendency to bite, hiss or swat may be an indication of pain.
Changes to your young cat’s facial expressions as a sign of pain
Cats express a lot of emotion in their body language. Your cat’s facial expression can actually clue you in to your cat’s pain.Ear position
A cat with their ears erect and facing forward is likely comfortable, while a cat who has their ears pulled apart and rotated outwards at baseline may be feeling pain.Orbital tightening
While your young cat may normally hold their eyes wide open while surveying their home, a cat in pain may be holding their eyes partially closed or squinted.Muzzle tension
A cat’s muzzle is naturally relaxed and rounded, but when in pain, they may tense the muzzle, causing the muzzle to appear elongated. This specific component of facial expression is harder for pet owners to recognize than some of the other aspects.Whisker position
A relaxed cat often holds their whiskers loose and curved. A cat in pain may have straight whiskers that are pointed forward away from the face.Head position
Your young cat should normally hold their head above their shoulders. If your cat’s head is being held below the shoulder line or they’re tilting their chin toward their chest, they may be uncomfortable.
Keep in mind that a cat at rest can have some of these changes, such as holding their eyes partially closed. You’ll want to consider the overall facial expression in conjunction with your cat’s other behaviors.
If you are concerned that your cat may be in pain, contact your VCA care team for a full physical evaluation. Your veterinary team will examine your young cat and perform necessary diagnostics to determine if pain is present, and if so, where the pain is originating from. It’s possible for some behavioral indications of pain to overlap with behavioral changes due to other issues, such as anxiety. Your VCA care team is happy to help you tease out the cause of your kitten’s behavioral changes.
