As cats age, they may experience discomfort from arthritis, cognitive decline, or other chronic conditions. Because cats instinctively hide pain, it can be difficult to recognize when they need help. Veterinary comfort care assessments focus on comfort and quality of life, helping pet families provide the best possible care at home. By understanding the subtle signs of pain in your cat and using a combination of traditional and integrative comfort care techniques, you can ensure your cat enjoys their senior years with dignity and ease.
Written by Dr. Tyler Carmack, Caring Pathways Director of Hospice & Palliative Care
A recent Caring Pathways client, Flerken, is seen for an acupuncture appointment!
Recognizing Pain in Aging Cats
Cats rarely show pain in obvious ways, but subtle changes in their behavior can signal discomfort.
Some signs to look for include:
✔ Slower movement, a change in how they move, or reluctance to jump
✔ Changes in appetite or drinking habits
✔ Litter box accidents or difficulty getting in and out of boxes (especially with a step)
✔ Hiding more than usual
✔ Increased vocalization, restlessness, irritation, or aggression
✔ Less interest in grooming or a messy coat
Comfort care veterinarians have specialized training in helping you recognize and manage these changes. They can provide at-home evaluations, personalized pain management plans, and coaching to ensure your cat remains comfortable.
Aging & Cognitive Changes: What to Expect
In addition to physical pain, senior cats can experience cognitive changes similar to dementia in humans. These changes may cause confusion, disorientation, anxiety, or altered sleep patterns. Your cat might vocalize at night, forget where the litter box is, or have a hard time settling, especially at night.
Integrative comfort care focuses on reducing stress and maintaining a familiar, comfortable routine for aging cats.
Ways to support them include:
🐾 Keeping food, water, and litter boxes easily accessible
🐾 Using soft lighting and familiar scents to reduce anxiety
🐾 Playing gentle, calming music
🐾 Providing proactive pain relief, as cognitive changes can progress more quickly and be more prominent in pets experiencing pain
If you’re unsure whether your cat’s behavior is related to pain or cognitive decline, a comfort care veterinarian can help assess their condition and recommend personalized care options.
Making Medications Easier
If you’ve ever struggled to give your cat a pill, you’re not alone! Many aging cats need pain relief, but traditional oral medications can be difficult to administer. Compounded medications, customized for taste and ease of administration, are a great alternative.
Options include:
✔ Flavored liquids (chicken, tuna, or other cat-friendly tastes)
✔ Transdermal gels (absorbed through the skin, avoiding pills altogether)
✔ Soft chew treats (if your cat enjoys eating them)
Injectable medications, given under the skin (usually by a veterinary professional) and sometimes needed only once a month, are another option to provide comfort to your cat without the daily struggle to medicate.
Our comfort care team can help you find the best medication form for your cat, making pain management easier and less stressful for both of you.
Flerken chows down on a yummy treat as Dr. Tyler focuses on carefully placing the acupuncture needles.
Integrative Pain Management: Gentle, Non-Medication Approaches
Why Choose Integrative Comfort Care for Cats?
Our integrative comfort care services focus on keeping your cat comfortable with the least stress possible. Along with medications, many gentle therapies can help:
- PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy): These non-invasive devices reduce inflammation and promote healing, great for cats with arthritis or chronic pain.
- Acupuncture: Stimulates the body’s pain relief responses; many pets tolerate it well and find it relaxing!
- Adequan Injections: An injectable neutraceutical to protect joints and slow arthritis progression.
- Hot & Cold Therapy: Warm compresses soothe stiff muscles; cool packs reduce swelling.
- Massage & Gentle Touch: Improves circulation and relaxes tense muscles.
- Supplements: Omega-3s and herbal remedies can reduce inflammation (always consult your veterinarian for trusted brands).
Your comfort-focused hospice veterinarian can help you find the right combination of therapies for your cat, ensuring they feel their best throughout the aging process.
Providing Comfort & Quality of Life
Hospice and palliative care for cats is about making life as comfortable as possible, focusing on pain relief, emotional well-being, and maintaining normalcy at home. Whether through medications, gentle therapies, or routine adjustments, there are many ways to help your cat feel safe, comfortable, and loved.
If you’re noticing changes in your senior cat, our integrative comfort care team can guide you through compassionate, expert-backed decisions to ensure your cat’s golden years are filled with comfort and care.
💙 Every moment matters. Let’s make them as peaceful and pain-free as possible. 💙
Acupuncture can benefit senior cats by helping manage chronic pain, particularly related to arthritis and other age-related conditions, and potentially improving their overall quality of life. It can also be helpful for supporting kidney and liver function in older cats.
About the Author: Dr. Tyler Carmack
Dr. Tyler is the Director of Hospice and Palliative Care for Caring Pathways. She founded Hampton Roads Veterinary Hospice in 2011 and has practiced exclusively hospice and palliative care for over a decade.
She has served on the Board of Directors of the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care (IAAHPC) since 2016 in a variety of roles and often lectures about Veterinary Hospice and Palliative Care. Dr. Tyler currently holds certifications in animal hospice and palliative care, veterinary acupuncture, Chinese food therapy, and Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine End-of-Life care. Her professional interests include pain management and teaching.
