Identifying pain in cats. As a general rule, most cats do an excellent detrimental job of hiding their pain. Fortunately, there are a lot of signs you can look for that indicate possible pain and a cat biting and scratching, cats in pain are more likely to bite and scratch. This is true even with their owners, and other familiar people. This is particularly true when a person touches or moves the painful area, or if the cat anticipates you touching or moving the painful area. Breathing changes.
Cats in pain may have a faster and more shallow breathing pattern than normal. They may also pant you may even notice a change in movement of the abdominal muscles and or those of the chest. Both of these sets of muscles are involved in the breathing process. It is a rule of thumb that I panting cat equals Very bad pain, heart and pulse changes. Cats in pain will often have an increased heart and pulse rate. The rate often noticeably speeds up when the painful area is touched or moved.
Purring. Just because a cat is purring does not mean they aren't in pain. If a cat is purring while showing any of the other signs, the purring may be pain related. In fact, it may actually increase in a cat experiencing pain, food and water changes. Cats in pain often eat and drink less when they do eat and drink. If the cause of their pain is their teeth, or some other part of their mouth, they may drop food and or water out of their mouth.
Grooming changes. You may notice an overall decrease the amount of self grooming and a cat experiencing generalized pain or illness. However, a cat With a wound may excessively groom the area energy level changes, most cats in pain will have a general decrease in their activity level. This often shows as a cat who sleeps more, but may also manifest as a cat who runs and or jumps less than normal. Many cats will hide when in pain, choosing to spend time under their beds or couches, or in closets. This is often a very telling sign.
Mobility changes. Cats experiencing pain often move around let's but depending on what hurts, they may still move around the same amount just differently. They may move with a limp or go more slowly up and down the stairs or be less eager or able to jump the way they used to bathroom changes. cats who have back pain for any reason may have difficulty with the posture needed to do affricate because of this, they may struggle to go to the bathroom. Sometimes they may even become constipated in the process. However, pain itself can also lead to slowed motility of the intestines and thus lead directly to constipation to cats with joint or bone pain may also have difficulty getting into their litter boxes, so they may start urinating and or defecating outside of their boxes.
Body contour changes swellings, whether they be on your cat's legs, body or face could be an indication of a painful condition, such as cat bite or tooth rot, abscesses, inflammation, cancer or something else.