Cats have been dubbed the “masters of disguise” when it comes to hiding their pain for a reason. Could you be misreading your cat’s pain signals? It happens every day- you’re not alone!
Why Cats Hide Their Pain
Cats have a long history of surviving in the wild prior to becoming domesticated- and they have not forgotten this. Cats are predators but in the wild they can also be prey. A cat in pain is seen as weak- therefore, making them prime targets for predators. In order to survive, they have adapted so that they hide disease, making it very hard to tell when a cat is sick without regular examinations and lab work.
Your cat will not cry out in pain, for fear that they will attract the attention of a predator. If they are crying out in pain, their condition is likely intense and quite severe.
Signs That Your Cat is in Pain
It is not uncommon for cat owners to misunderstand their cat’s cues when it comes to displaying signs of pain. Quite often, we hear similar comments about what an owner perceives to be an odd behavior in their cat when in fact, their cat is most likely experiencing some level of pain.
Signs of Pain in Cats:
- Decrease in normal activity
- Decreased desire to jump up on surfaces he/she normally jumps onto or into such as a litter box
- Slowness to get up
- May cry or move away from petting
- Does not want to be picked up and handled as usual
- Limping
- Decrease in grooming habits
If you notice any of these signs, it’s important to bring your cat in for an examination soon as possible.
Cats are excellent at masking their pain due to their instinctual need for survival; however, understanding why cats hide pain can help owners identify when something isn’t quite right with their pets.