Signs Your Cat May Be in Pain

Cats often hide discomfort, so owners usually need to look at small changes in the face, body, and routine together. This guide lists general signs that can be worth a veterinary conversation.

Facial signs

The face is one place cats show discomfort. Ears may sit lower, rotate outward, or flatten. The eyes may look narrowed or squinted. The muzzle can appear tense or more drawn than usual, the whiskers may straighten and point forward, and the head may be held lower relative to the shoulders. These are the five features used by the Cat Grimace Scale, and they are most informative when several appear together. The scale was described in a 2019 validation study (Evangelista et al.). See the cat facial expressions guide for more.

Changes in behaviour

A painful cat often changes how it interacts with the household. It may hide more, avoid being touched, or become irritable when handled. Some cats become quieter and more withdrawn, while others become restless and pace. A cat that normally greets visitors but now stays under the bed is showing a meaningful change, even if the face looks normal.

Changes in interaction are especially useful because they are easy for an owner to compare over time. The key question is not whether the behaviour is unusual for an average cat, but whether it is unusual for this cat. Common changes include:

• Hiding more than usual or avoiding contact
• Irritability when touched or handled
• Restlessness, pacing, or difficulty settling
• Reduced interest in people, toys, or food

Posture and movement

Posture can change when a cat is uncomfortable. A cat may crouch with its legs tucked, hold its body stiffly, or avoid stretching. It may hesitate before jumping, climb less, or move more slowly on stairs. Limping is an obvious sign, but many cats do not limp even when a joint or paw is painful; they simply do less.

Reduced movement is easy to miss because it is an absence rather than an action. If a cat that used to jump onto a favourite shelf now waits on the floor, that change is worth mentioning to a veterinarian.

Appetite, grooming, and litter box habits

Pain can affect everyday routines. A cat may eat less, chew on one side, drop food, or show less interest in treats. Grooming may decrease, leaving the coat looking dull or unkempt, or a cat may over-groom one area. Litter box habits can change too, sometimes because it hurts to enter a high-sided tray, climb stairs, or squat comfortably.

These changes can have many causes besides pain, including stress or illness. The important point is that they are measurable and worth reporting. A veterinarian can help sort out whether the cause is pain, another medical problem, or something in the environment.

Why cats hide pain

Cats are both predators and prey. Showing weakness can make an animal vulnerable, so cats often mask pain until it is significant. This does not mean cats feel less pain than other animals; it means the outward signs are quieter. That is one reason structured tools such as the Cat Grimace Scale exist: they give owners a systematic way to notice changes that would otherwise be easy to overlook.

Using the Cat Grimace Scale at home

The Cat Grimace Scale can add a facial observation to the wider picture. It scores ear position, orbital tightening, muzzle tension, whisker position, and head position from 0 to 2, producing a total from 0 to 10. Published owner guidance commonly uses a total of 4 or higher as a prompt to contact a veterinarian. You can start an assessment or read how to read the score.

A low score does not rule out pain, because the scale only looks at the face in one photo. If the behaviour, movement, or routine has changed, those observations remain important regardless of the score.

When to contact a veterinarian

Contact a veterinarian whenever you are concerned about your cat's comfort or health. Signs that are worth reporting include a changed appetite, reduced grooming, hiding, reluctance to move, altered litter box habits, or a facial expression that seems tense. If a cat stops eating, has difficulty breathing, cannot use a leg, or seems to be getting worse quickly, seek veterinary care promptly.

Do not give a cat human pain medication or medication prescribed for another animal. Many human drugs are dangerous to cats, and the dose matters greatly. Only a veterinarian can choose an appropriate treatment after examining the cat.

Sources and further reading

• Feline Grimace Scale official website — felinegrimacescale.com
• Evangelista MC, et al. Facial expressions of pain in cats: the development and validation of a Feline Grimace Scale. Scientific Reports. 2019. DOI 10.1038/s41598-019-55693-8