Every cat keeper must be attentive and perceptive. Watching your pet helps you to see quickly when its health has deteriorated. Which signals should worry you? What does the pain position look like – the position of a sick cat?
Brave purr
Although you would like to set aside the sky for your pet and make sure that his cat’s life is happy, it is not easy to save him from pain. This natural reaction of the animal’s organism is a source of suffering for him – including purring charges do not differ from humans. A cat can only tell you about its problem through “signals”. When he feels unwell, he will not fawn, meow in a special way, or come to your lap, making it clear that he needs an appointment with the vet. The sources of pain can be different. Luckily, the pet always shows discomfort in a similar way. So it’s worth knowing what the cat’s pain position looks like.
Obviously, your pet is not able to tell you about its problem. However, there is another compelling reason why close observation of your quadruped is so important. Cats try to get sick in secret. They can mask the problem for a long time. They’re really good at hiding pain and discomfort. They will make it difficult for you to track the disease – not out of defiance, but rather in nature. In order to help your pet as quickly as possible, it is worth knowing the signals that the pet sends when it feels unwell. What does a cat’s pain position look like? What should get your attention?
What does a cat’s pain position look like?
Lack of appetite or willingness to play may indicate a disease of your pet. Also the one associated with pain. There are many reasons for unpleasant discomfort. These are fractures, of course, but also problems with the abdomen, intestines and bladder. The cause will be accurately determined by a veterinarian. It is up to you to recognize the first signs of your pet’s suffering. The cat’s pain position is one of the most popular indications of discomfort. What is it and what does it look like?
The cat’s painful position is nothing more than the characteristic body position of the purr. An animal takes a specific position when it suffers and becomes uncomfortable. In this way, he lets you know that his body is not functioning properly. The cat in the pain position looks as if it is squatting. He is curled up and shifts his weight onto his paws placed at the level of his chest. The animal also leans its head forward, while its back arches. His stomach is almost completely off the floor – it is in contact with it on the smallest possible surface. The tension is visible on his face. Additionally, the animal may have its eyes closed. Most often it remains motionless for a long time.
The pain position, the position of a sick cat, is similar to the classic position of the four-legged body. So let’s take a good look at your pet to spot the difference. Caretakers often confuse it with the position in which the animal lies on its paws folded up and watches the world from its favorite place in the room. How can you be sure your cat’s posture is painful? You will gain it after you call the animal or approach it. A healthy pet will run up to you, but you can also stroke it easily. A sick pet will avoid contact.
Other signs of pain
The cat’s painful position is one sign of the problem. What else is worth paying attention to to make sure that your pet is suffering? Your attention should be drawn to a sudden change in your pet’s behavior. When a cat is in pain, it is reluctant to move, which makes it less active. Pay attention not only to the prolonged rest time, but also the reluctance to jump on tall furniture. A lame gait is a clear signal that you can link to pain. It is not cat’s nature to change your daily routine. If your favorite has changed eating times, favorite hiding places or stopped fawning on your legs, be interested in his health.
Consider visiting your vet if your pet has started licking or scratching excessively. While a cat cares for its fur every day, doing it too intensely or too often is a sign of illness. Molting is also not a normal situation. Similarly, the deterioration of the hair condition – after all, the purr spends a lot of time every day on grooming it. When an animal is in pain, it can let go of this part of its daily routine. Excessive hair loss is a clear signal from your pet. Aggression is also a sign of pain. The cat, defending itself, will bite and scratch. It is his defensive reaction and a signal of the need for peace.
Pain is also often evidenced by the position in which the animal gives the impression that it is pressing its head against the wall (so-called head pressing). In this way, he cuts himself off from external stimuli. Pressure is considered to relieve pain to some extent. The disease is also evidenced by the animal’s tension when dealing with physiological needs. The cat may also assume a painful position in the litter box. It often additionally tightens the muscles. In this situation, you may suspect that your pet has urinary problems. You will confirm your assumptions by looking into the litter box. Any abnormalities may be an illness.
Also read: Cystitis in a cat – causes, symptoms, treatment
Your vigilance should also be triggered by excessive vocalization, cat anxiety or increased sleepiness. Are you not sure if you read the signals sent by your pet correctly? In case of any uncertainty, make an appointment at a veterinary clinic. There, the specialist will best diagnose the cat. Better to make a mistake a few times than to come to the vet once in an advanced stage of the disease.
Pain position in a cat – what does it mean?
House pets take a particular attitude when they feel pain. By appearing to be kneeling, they try to deal with the discomfort they feel in their body. What is the cause of the pain? What do cats communicate in this way? Pain position is one of the most common symptoms of a problem in a pet. This is a signal of many diseases. Your vet will tell you the exact cause of your pain, although you can guess a lot from the accompanying symptoms. What health problems does the pain position indicate?
One of the reasons for suffering can be any kind of resentment. When an animal avoids jumping, walks on stiff feet or limps, it is very likely that not all parts of its articular system are functioning properly. Many cats are injured when walking alone outside their homes. If the pet has not injured itself at home, but leaves the house frequently, check that it is not cowering due to orthopedic pain. A signal about them will also be a situation in which your pet intensively licks the fur in a sore spot.
Cats often take a painful position after treatments – e.g. castration or sterilization. This is one of the most obvious situations where an animal suffers. Medications alone are not always enough to relieve pain. If your pet is most comfortable and safest in a pain position, do not force him to change it. Especially in this case, the cat may additionally refuse eating karma or drinking water.
Fries are really good at masking their health problems. This is dangerous because by the time you know the animal is troubled, the disease may already develop seriously. Pain position is often a signal of serious dysfunction of internal organs. It can also mean infection with worms or parasites in the purr’s body.
Cat’s pain position – how to help your pet?
Why do cats choose to suffer alone? This feature works well when they live among predators. By masking the pain, it is difficult to track a weak animal that becomes an easy prey. Unfortunately, this behavior makes it difficult for caregivers to react at the right moment. How can you help your pet?
First of all, do not try to diagnose it yourself. If anything bothers you, take your pet to the vet. He will carefully examine the cat and make a diagnosis. Pain position, as well as many other symptoms, such as unwillingness to play or aggressive behavior, are signs of many diseases. The doctor in his office has the opportunity to carry out additional tests that will confirm his belief in the correctness of the diagnosis. A cat’s problem can often be traced thanks to an additional ultrasound or X-ray.
Also, do not give painkillers or any other preparations yourself. The veterinarian will show you the right agent that will help your cat and choose its dosage. Medicines for humans, widely available in pharmacies, can turn out to be poisonous to the purr.
Pain affects the cat’s quality of life. The pet becomes withdrawn, sad and less active. When you see an animal in pain, do not force it to play. Avoid petting, touching or carrying your pet. This will only satisfy your need for closeness and give the cat additional pain. Watch the purr really well, so as not to underestimate the signals sent by his body and explain them, for example, with old age.
How to watch a cat well?
As an owner, you know your pet best. Pay attention to his behavior every day. Not only whether he eagerly eats the proposed meals or wants to have fun. Also carefully control how often he goes to the litter box and whether he takes care of all physiological needs in it. Also keep track of the time your pet spends on sleep and activity.
The flies take care of their hair every day, but the way of washing it may be a signal of an illness. So pay attention to how the animal cleans the fur and if it does not do it too intensively.
Your cat has stopped eating and you think he’s freaking out? Controlling your pet’s meals is extremely important. Reluctance to feed is often a signal of problems in the digestive system. These are often a source of pain for the cat. In order to avoid problems with eating, it is worth feeding the animal from the very beginning good quality food. Wholesome products are full of vitamins and minerals necessary for the proper functioning of the cat’s body. Special mixtures support specific organs, which helps to avoid pain.
See also: What cats eat – balanced cat nutrition
Pain position through the eyes of the cat’s guardian
Watch the pet and do not make it suffer
Cats are reluctant to let their owners know that there is something wrong with them. They hide with pain that you can only pinpoint by closely observing your quadruped. The pain position is the most common posture animals adopt when faced with suffering. Then they transfer the weight of the body to the front paws, cower, but do not touch the floor with their belly. Their backs flex in an arch and their head leans forward. Cats also often blink their eyes.
The pain position is easy to confuse with the position in which cats rest very often – that is why it is so important to carefully observe your pet. What to do if your pet is suffering? First of all, come to the veterinary office as soon as possible. Only a specialist is able to diagnose the animal well. Do not give your cat medications on your own. Their type and dose should be selected by a veterinarian. In order to avoid situations in which the animal suffers, feed it with good quality food as a precaution. Full-value products can be found in the offer of the Apetete store. Check how much choice you have.