Have you ever wondered how to tell if your cat isn’t feeling well or if they’re in pain? It’s common to look for clues that relate to how a human may appear, and act, if they’re in pain. Sometimes, it’s obvious – a limp, crying in the litterbox, not wanting to eat. Other times, it’s more subtle and the cues aren’t screaming out at you. Fortunately, researchers have devised a scale to assess how a cat is feeling when they’re obviously not acting like themselves.

The Feline Pain Grimace Scale is consistent across all cats. By looking at how they hold their ears, whiskers, eyes and head, you will be able to tell if a cat is in pain. This can make all the difference to them. Getting a diagnosis, and pain relief, will help them, and you, feel better.

To view the different states of cat pain below, roll over the photo (desktop) or tap on photo (mobile).

This cat is sitting with their head above their shoulders, eyes wide open, ears forward and whiskers in a relaxed, curved position.

This cat is well.

This cat’s head is aligned mid-way below the shoulders, ears slightly off to the side, eyes half closed and whiskers straightened.

This cat has some discomfort or pain.

This cat’s head is positioned below the shoulders, head looking down, ears to the side, eyes closed, muzzle and whiskers pointed forward.

This cat is in pain.

Photos: Feline Grimace Scale website.

If your cat isn’t in obvious pain, what other clues can you look for?

Has your cat stopped eating? Are they unusually inactive or lethargic? Did you have to search for them and found them hiding? Are they refusing to let you pick them up? Have they made numerous trips to the litterbox with little output? Is their fur looking unusually spikey and not laying flat?

These are all signs that something is going on. Use the Feline Grimace Scale to assess your cat’s level of pain. If your cat scores equal to, or greater than 4, get them to the vet right away. If your cat scores lower than 4, take a look the other signs and determine if they need an immediate vet visit or if they can be observed a little longer. It never hurts to make a vet appointment even if your cat scores on the lower end. And if your cat is exhibiting other signs, even if they score zero on the pain scale, a vet should have a look at them to determine why they aren’t well.

Cats are really good at hiding pain. Until recently, it was more difficult to decide if a cat needed pain relief. Thanks to researchers at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Montreal, the Feline Grimace Scale has changed the way cats are assessed for pain. Visit the Feline Grimace Scale website and learn how to use this tool to help the cats in your life.