As cats age, their behavior usually changes. The wild and playful activities we associate with kittens give way to adult cats sleeping in the sun and prowling around the house.
Senior cats slow down even more, which is normal — old age is not a disease. However, some behavior changes in aging cats are abnormal and may arise from pain. Cats are experts at hiding signs of pain, so cat owners must be observant to recognize when their cat needs help.
What kind of behavior changes could indicate my cat is in pain?
Obvious behaviors that indicate a cat may be in pain include:
- Decrease in grooming and self-care (matted haircoat)
- Urinary or fecal accidents
- Reluctance or inability to jump up on furniture, counters, and windowsills
- Reluctance to be picked up or petted on the back (e.g., below the waist, over the hips)
- Reluctance to be touched in certain areas
- Reluctance to go up or down stairs
- Creeping down a high surface rather than jumping off it
- Hiding under the bed when guests visit (not usual behavior)
- Becoming aggressive when people try to pet them
- Lying down while eating or drinking
- Slow to get up from a sitting or lying position
- Slower to move into a sitting or lying position
- Lying down in one spot for longer periods of time
- Licking more over joints (often causing bald spots)
- Loss of interest in toys, catnip, or animals outside
- Anti-social or withdrawn behavior towards family
- Signs of aggression towards other pets in the house (not usual behavior)
- Standing while defecating or urinating instead of squatting
If your cat shows any of these behaviors, visit your veterinarian so they can find the source of pain and begin treatment.
How will my aging cat change her grooming behavior if she’s in pain?
One of the most common pain-associated behavior changes in aging cats is a decrease in grooming and self-care. Cats are naturally meticulous about cleaning themselves. Watch any cat for longer than a few minutes, and you are likely to see her cleaning some part of her body. When a cat has pain, it can make cleaning difficult.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common chronically painful ailments in cats, affecting more than 90% of cats 10 years of age and older. Spinal arthritis makes it uncomfortable to twist and turn, so grooming the body, especially the hind end, becomes difficult. OA in the lower spine and hips can make the area over the pelvis and upper rear legs tender.
When grooming the lower back, pelvis, and rear legs becomes painful, the cat simply stops taking care of her coat. Ungroomed areas become matted, and the cat may develop an unkempt appearance. She may also object to attempts to brush her.
If you notice your cat developing matted hair or flaky skin, make an appointment with your veterinarian. If your cat has trouble grooming even after its pain is well managed, consider having a groomer give her a “lion cut” to make the body hair short and easy to keep clean.
What litter box behaviors could indicate my cat is in pain?
Cats are famously clean and tidy, and that usually includes their litter box habits. They like having a discreet place to eliminate, and most cat litter makes the litter box an attractive destination. If your cat has consistently used the litter box appropriately and suddenly begins missing the box or eliminating in other areas of the house, pain should be considered as a potential explanation.
When cats have lower back or hip pain, climbing into and out of a litter box can be a terrible experience. Even worse are covered litter boxes, where the top of the opening can come into contact with the cat’s back. In this situation, a cat will often go to the litter box but refuse to go into it. The cat may choose instead to eliminate near the litter box or in the same room as the litter box. Other cats may choose a completely different part of the house for elimination. Once pain is managed, provide your cat with lower-sided litter boxes, and remove the cover.
The same difficulty arises if the litter box is on a different level of the home. Traveling up or down a flight of stairs may be too daunting for a cat with back or hip pain. Finally, a cat may begin to stand while urinating instead of squatting, because squatting is painful. When they stand to urinate, they may miss the litter box, allowing urine to hit the nearest vertical surface or to collect on the nearby floor.
What should I do if I’m not sure my cat is in pain?
When in doubt, have it checked out. Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to voice your concerns. Cats tend to hide their pain, so do not ignore these behavioral clues to your aging cat’s condition. As their caregiver, you must pay attention so that any changes in behavior are observed and brought to your veterinarian’s attention.
Your veterinary healthcare team is ready to help identify pain and discomfort and to treat it so that your cat can return to a comfortable, pain-free life. Your veterinarian may prescribe a trial of pain medication. If the behavioral changes improve or resolve while the cat is on medication, it indicates that your cat was indeed in pain. The sooner pain can be identified and treated, the better it is for everyone.
