Why do my cats yelp and bite when I touch their limbs? Is it pain?

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! Most cats do not like to be touched past the head normally. But of this is a sudden behavioral change I would recommend a Vet exam since she is getting older. They can see of she is more painful than normal in her back and be sure she hasn't lost weight. There are glucosamines/chondriotins for cats like Dasuquin and Cosequin. In the mean time don't pet her where she doesn't like. Cats do get ramped up if we keep doing things they don't like. https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=3571 https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=26149

This is extremely concerning since cat bites are very serious. You can end up in the hospital for multiple days because of them. I would make sure you have a place for him to hide in, climb on and look out the window. I would also make sure you really wear him out. Playing with him with toys only (not your hands) and seeing if that helps. You can also talk to your veterinarian about trying behavior medication. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Crazy Kitty. Poor boy. I'd be concerned he could be injured, and he could have internal injuries causing his pain. Please do not give him any human pain medications, as many are toxic to cats and are fatal if given. Due to this and the fact that he is in pain, I'd take him into a vet now to get treated. Best of luck.

Hi there and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is very rare that cats suffer from hyperesthesia (over sensitivity to touch to the point that bit cannot uncomfortable) but it is not unheard of. It is thought to be of a neurological origin-and can be very difficult to treat. Sometimes adding a medication called gabapentin has helped in such cases for my clients. I would talk to your veterinarian to see if they think Royal would be a good candidate or if it is strictly behavioral. If behavioral in origin-sometimes feliway diffusers are helpful in calming our feline companions as well. I hope this helps!

The best way to know if there is a medical issue causing pain is to have Kit examined by the veterinarian. Sometimes back pain or fleas can make a cat reactive. Some cats also will exhibiting petting related aggression: https://www.petcoach.co/article/petting-related-aggression-in-cats/ I hope this provides some guidance. Please feel free to post any additional questions.

I am sorry to hear that Bandit isn’t feeling well. Does he go outside? If so then a brewing abscess may be the culprit or perhaps he was clipped by a car or rolled by a dog or other predator. I would highly encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible. If he is that painful then your veterinarian may choose to give some pain medications prior to examining him, but they will make that determination once you are there. He may also need an x-ray. Best of luck and I hope you have an answer soon and I hope he improves quickly! Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Hello. It is impossible to say exactly what might be going on, but we should rule out the possibility of a bruised rib or small fracture. Your veterinarian may need to clip some hair down to the skin to see what things look like. It is good that everything else is well with her so it does not sound like there is anything serious. But if your vet suggests an x-ray, this might be a good idea. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.