[Cats] Tuesday's trivia answer

[MJ]

Okay, okay, it was a trick question, since there's no one right answer.

Cats can do a variety of things to express pain, but they are bred to 
NOT vocalize pain (which broadcasts to predators that an injured cat is 
available for a meal).  One may never know a cat is experiencing mild 
pain unless you pick up on the subtle signs.  An arthritic cat may never 
utter a single protest but may suffer from a slower or stiffer gait, 
loss of appetite due to stiff joints not allowing them to crouch down to 
the food bowl, and/or sensitivity in the affected joint(s).  A swollen 
limb and a limp (or not bearing weight on the limb) may be the only clue 
you see with a broken bone or sprained ligament.  A cat with a broken 
pelvis may simply lie still as if extremely lethargic.

Generally, cats are stoic (haven't we all figured that out already?). 
 From working at the vet clinic for so many years, I've seen cats with 
broken pelvises, advanced urinary tract blockages, head traumas, broken 
limbs, severed tails (only once), critical illnesses, and recovering 
from surgery (including limb amputation).  One thing I've noticed is 
that for the most part, they don't usually howl or meow.  However, they 
do howl when they are close to death.

Yes, they do occasionally purr when in pain.  My opinion is they do it 
to try to cope (sort of like humans humming or singing in stressful 
situations).  And they do sometimes tremble or shiver.  Symptom of drop 
in blood pressure or shock, maybe?  Some cats lash out, but it's likely 
just a survival instinct rather than an expression of pain.  After all, 
an injured cat is at its most vulnerable, and it could be an instinctive 
reflex to protect itself rather than a symptom of pain.

As for those cats who howl due to being blocked...  That's the exception 
to the norm.  No one's sure why exactly they howl the way they do. 
Whatever the reason, it's a good thing they do.  It's the one symptom 
that certainly can't be missed by Mom/DadCat.

-Marie