Hi, I’m Dr. Lauren! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my two adventurous cats, Pancake and Tiller.
Continuing this two-part series on Pain in Cats: an Owners’ Manual (you can read the first part on Recognizing Pain here), we look at the misconceptions about cat pain, of which there are many. Also, we can touch on action items that will help you be the best advocate for your cat’s pain, and resolve it. In retrospect, you are your cat’s best advocate (or cat advocate), so the more knowledge you have, the better vets we are at helping you address any concerns. So, let’s go straight.
Common Misconceptions About Sick Cats
There are many misconceptions about the disease and how it manifests in cats. In part, this is because they are incredible at hiding pain. In large part, this is because they can be subtle with their body language and the signals they send.
Wrong thought: Cats always show when they are sick.
Truth: To be honest, many don’t, or do it sparingly.
Wrong thought: A purring cat is a happy cat.
Truth: Cats purr when they are nervous, and in pain, as well as when they are happy.
Wrong thought: Because they eat, they cannot get sick.
Truth: This is a common misconception that I discuss with clients. Cats will eat well despite a pretty terrible toothache. So never use this as an indication that their dental health is good, or that they don’t need dental care. Routine annual checkups are important to identify these issues early! Some of the patients I see with the best appetites have teeth literally falling out of their mouths!
Wrong thought: Pain is normal in certain situations.
Truth: Any illness should be investigated, even if your cat has recently had major surgery. Cats don’t have to suffer, because of the many treatment options available in modern feline medicine. Painful cats are unnecessary, and do not help the healing process (by sedating them)—it is a myth. In fact, research in humans shows that pain delays healingand we believe the same is true for cats.
Wrong thought: Using opioids prescribed for my cat can cause constipation or opioid addiction.
Truth: In clinical practice, opioids seem to almost never lead to constipation in the cats I work with. So, if your vet prescribes them, use them as directed. Similarly, many clients I’ve worked with are concerned about their cat developing an opioid addiction: it doesn’t work that way in cats.
Wrong thought: Human pain medications are OK to use on cats.
Truth: Undoubtedly, they are not. Use what your vet prescribes, and nothing else.
Now that we’ve discussed the common causes of cat pain in the home, how to recognize them, and the misconceptions about the disease, let’s get to the real heart of the matter. Once you identify the disease in your cat, what do you do next? This is the critical part of the equation, as it allows your cat to receive the treatment they need.
Getting an appointment for your cat’s pain:
- Take a video: a video is a great tool to capture the behavior you see at home, which is often not replicated in a clinic!
- Next, talk to your vet clinic, and book an appointment. Critical tip: Give them the video before an appointment (either via email, or a file sharing service like Gmail Drive) so they have a chance to see it before your cat’s appointment. Professional secret: we’ll often share such videos with colleagues in the clinic and watch them together, which means you’ll often get a second and third opinion on your video, which is better for your cat (and free of charge for yours! )
- Do your research first, what your cat is exhibiting, and what tests or treatments may be available. Bring a written list of questions, so you don’t forget to ask them. Expect that bloodwork may be needed, as well as additional imaging such as x-rays. Sometimes, it can’t all be done in the same appointment.
- Attend the appointment.
- If you have concerns, and they aren’t addressed, it’s ok to ask for a second opinion! Seriously, I’ve never met a vet who thinks that. We want you, and your cat, to get the best care, and be happy with the outcome. Sometimes you don’t communicate well with a vet, or like their approach, or things just need to be explained in a different way. Or you think you see something they don’t. Remember, you know your cat better than we do – so don’t hesitate to advocate for them.
Top Tips for Treating Illness in Cats
Finally, I’d like to share some tips from a veterinarian’s perspective, which will help you better manage your cat’s pain. These are things that as a professional, I want you to know, but often don’t have time to fully discuss in an appointment. Or, sometimes, we discuss it, but given the amount of information cat owners have to process at any given appointment, I’m surprised anything is remembered!
- Know that many cat medications come in a liquid, and a pill form – so decide which one will be easier for your cat. If in doubt, I recommend pills (aka tablets), as they can sometimes be added to food, bypassing the need to pill your cat. (Churus is a fantastic tool to hide pills for cats, by the way!) On the other hand, if you are giving liquids, the volumes are usually quite large, and if your cat spit it out, you don’t know if you need to repeat the dose, and if so, how much.
- Here is a great video for pilling your cat. This is the method I use myself—it’s easier to use the cat facing me. Also, tilting their head slightly opens their mouth naturally, making it easier to administer medicine.
- Transdermal patches are also an option for some medications, as are injections. For cats who don’t want to touch their mouths, these can be better alternatives!
- Quick-dissolving tablets are another option for some medications, but I haven’t had good success as a professional with cats understanding the theory of them! So, I tend to avoid them.
- Not all pain medications work well for all cats. If your cat is prescribed something, and you don’t think it’s working, don’t hesitate to ask for another option. Similarly, if a medication causes vomiting or diarrhea, talk to your vet to find another option.
- Generics vs Brand Name drugs: As in humans, the difference shouldn’t be much…. But sometimes, there is. We don’t fully understand why, because the active ingredients are the same. Sometimes, additional additives can be the culprit, sometimes not. But if you think a brand name drug works better than a generic brand or vice versa, don’t hesitate to request an alternative form.
Ultimately, cats are beautiful mysteries, and as cat owners, we want nothing but the best for them. We hope this Cat Owners Manual on Pain is informative, and allows you to best advocate for your cat.
