My cat is in pain and sleeping a lot. What can I give her for comfort?

Cats are very sensitive to pain medication so only use it if it’s been prescribed by your veterinarian. Giving omega 3 supplementation wiill help reduce the pain and inflammation from arthritis. Switching to Hills J/D diet, a prescription cat diet formulated for cats with arthritis helps also. In addition I find massage, laser and acupuncture to be effective for pain relief without medication. Also CBD oil can reduce arthritis pain. Please use a veterinary brand that has been tested and is correctly dosed for cats. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Anabel.

I'm sorry to hear that Jinx seems painful and has been sleeping more than normal. It is possible that all of his signs are related to arthritis, but sleeping more could be due to underlying health conditions, such as diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease, cancer, among others. To answer your question, yes, you should take Jinx to the vet for further evaluation. He will certainly need a physical exam and may also need some lab testing to assess his internal organ function. I hope that all goes well!

Hi Courtney! It sounds like Millie is in pain, and that’s why she can’t jump on things she used to, is walking stiffly, and is sleeping a lot. Please do not give her any human pain medications as many are toxic to cats and are fatal if given. You need to take her into a vet today or tomorrow to get checked out. I hope this helps!

Unfortunately no. Many OTC pain medications are toxic to cats, and are fatal if given. If Oliver is in a lot of pain, he needs to see a vet now. Please take him into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website. Best of luck.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Kitty! Sadly all you can do at home is rest him (not running, jumping, keep indoors). Cats can not tolerate human pain medications (deadly to cats). Sometimes rest alone can really help a strain or sprain. You can start feline Dasuquin or Cosequin which is a joint supplement for arthritis. It is best to have Kitty evaluated by a Vet as soon as you are able. There are approved pain medications for cats but they are prescription only. Possible causes are: infection or abscess (especially if he goes outside), arthritis, strain or sprain, fracture, immune joint disease, cancer. I wish Kitty a speedy recovery!

Hi there. Older cats can sometimes develop arthritis or other chronic orthopedic issues as they get older. You don't mention if she is declawed or not, but if she is, this would be even more common. I would recommend taking her to the vet for an exam when you're able to - if she does have arthritis, there are prescription pain medications that can be used long-term to make her much more comfortable, just like an older human with arthritis issues. In the meantime, you could also try adding a daily joint supplement such as Cosequin along with an omega-2 fatty acid supplement such as Welactin to her food each day. These can both be helpful for arthritis issues in both dogs and cats.

Yes it is normal for an old cat to have spells of aches and pains. Arthritis is common in old cats, and it can be pain to them. Given that this is only happening briefly at the moment and every few days, it's fine to keep an eye on her for now. Should these episodes start to increase in length or occurrence, then it would be time to see the vet. Please do not give Lilly any human pain medications. Many are toxic to cats and are fatal if given. If she does need pain medication, her vet can prescribe a safe one for her. I hope this helps!