Let's be honest: cats are experts at hiding pain, something that on the other hand is understandable if we take into account that, when they lived in their natural habitat they had to do everything possible to stay alive. And it is that showing weakness in the wild often means the end of that animal. But of course, many of them now live with good humans who adore them, so surely there are those who wonder why they continue to behave as they did in the past.
Everything has its explanation, and this matter has a lot to do with instinct, which is something that cannot be controlled or changed because it does not depend on the current situation of each feline, but rather on evolution. That's why, We are going to tell you the 6 most common signs of pain in cats so you can know when it's time to take him to the vet.
They do not wash with the same regularity
Cat grooming is very important; in fact, it is one of the things they spend the most time on. If the coat looks less shiny, bristly and even rough, it is probably because something is wrong with him..
The third eyelid becomes visible
The third eyelid, or the nictitating membrane which is whitish in color, becomes visible when cats are in weak health, especially when they have a fever or feel pain.
They produce excess saliva
If they have alterations in the mouth, either by a gingivitis or other oral and dental problems, one of the most frequent symptoms is the excessive production of saliva, which may be accompanied by a loss of appetite.
They are aggressive
If they change their behavior almost overnight, they may be stressed, anxious or that have pain in any part of their body which will become more intense when caressing them on the affected area.
They meow more than normal
There are quite talkative cats who really like to have "conversations" with their humans, but when they meow more than usual it is a sign of emotional pain. It is the way they tell us that they need us to dedicate more time to them. In addition, it cannot be ruled out that it is a sign of pain, so a visit to the vet would not hurt.
Adopt anti-sallow postures to relieve pain
When the pain becomes very intense, cats will adopt postures to try to relieve it. For example, have the body bent or with the front legs stretched out they are ways they have to feel a little better.
We hope it has been useful to you and you can identify the signs of pain in cats more easily 🙂 .