Is Your Cat in Pain? Subtle Signs You Might Be Missing

Cats are incredibly good at hiding pain, and sometimes the first clue that something is wrong doesn't look like pain at all. It looks like a change in behavior. Maybe your cat suddenly stops hanging out with you. They're less tolerant of another cat. Their eating or litter-box habits change. They start biting when touched somewhere they never minded before. Or they're simply acting a little... off. In this episode, Amy talks with Certified Cat Behavior Consultant Amanda Caron, founder of Frisky Feline Behavior Counseling, about how pain can show up through behavior and why knowing what's normal for your individual cat matters so much. Amanda shares what changes to watch for, how to track patterns without turning pet parenting into a full-time data-collection project, ways to figure out what's happening in a multi-cat household, and when a behavior change warrants a call to your veterinarian. They also discuss the Feline Grimace Scale, a science-based tool that helps cat parents recognize facial changes associated with acute pain and gives them useful information to discuss with their veterinarian. In this episode: Why cats are so good at hiding pain Subtle behavior changes that may deserve a closer look Why your cat's individual “normal” matters more than a generic checklist Simple ways to track changes and patterns Monitoring eating, litter-box habits and behavior in multi-cat homes When to involve your veterinarian How pain can be mistaken for a behavior problem How the Feline Grimace Scale can help you recognize signs of acute pain Resources: Amanda Caron and Frisky Feline Behavior Counseling Visit Frisky Feline Behavior Counseling Feline Grimace Scale Visit the Feline Grimace Scale website Important: This episode is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for veterinary care. Behavior changes can have many causes. If you're concerned about a change in your cat's health or behavior, contact your veterinarian. Stuck on a pet problem? Send it here. Practical pet advice for busy pet parents. Love the show? Follow The Pet Parent Hotline so you don’t miss an episode, and share this one with a pet parent who needs it. Listen & Follow: 🌍Official Site |📱Facebook |📺YouTube | 🍏 Apple |🎵Spotify The Pet Parent Hotline covers real-world dog and cat behavior, training, pet health and nutrition, veterinary decisions, pet-care costs, aging pets, and everyday life with animals. No fluff. No guilt. Just useful advice to help you make smarter decisions and enjoy life with your pets. Help us reach more pet parents like you: A 5-star rating or review on Apple Podcasts helps new listeners feel confident trying us out. Contact: [email protected] ©Ⓟ 2026 Amy Castro