Do cats know your in pain?

I suffer from constant headaches, the 24/7 kind with some days being better than others.
I find this weird, but whenever I have a really bad episode, Chemul (my once feral kitten) will crawl up on any part of me she can, usually on my chest, and just lay there with me. She is usually not a cuddly cat, and likes to attack you if she gets more than 2 pats at a time, but she will lay there with me, and let me pat her as long as I want.
Mufasa doesn't seem to realize I'm in pain, he continues on with his catty business, but it really seems to effect Chemul. She gets very concerned and will not leave my side.
I've never had an animal react like this to my pain before, is this normal behavior?? I've heard that cats will sometimes lay on someone who is sick or injured and purr, as it is know to help the healing process, but she does not purr...just lays there quietly.

I think it's normal. I believe cats know when we're hurt, sick or sad.

Some do. Gary also suffers from head pain 24 hours a day, seven days a week. He also has multiple attacks during the day and night that enormously escalate the pain. I don't remember how the cats reacted when this first started (back in 2006). Flowerbelle does stick to him like glue when he's sick - and when he's in a high cycle with the pain.

I'm so sorry you have to suffer like that. No one should have to.

I've heard of this, but never really experienced it myself.
But last night I had a horrible nightmare in the middle of the night about a traumatic near-death of a newborn baby I experienced at work yesterday (I'm a labor and delivery nurse) I started crying while half asleep at 3am, the next thing I remember is my new cat, Georgia, rubbing, kneading, and purring all over me. I think she was trying to comfort me (meanwhile my husband does nothing and acts annoyed that I woke him up. Sigh. A reason to choose cats over men. haha)

Your right LDG, no one should have to suffer like this. Some days, I almost wish I had a termal disease instead. At least then, I would know that the pain will eventually stop. I've had this for 9 years now, and just the thought of living with it indefinately is depressing.

Oh, they know. I don't know how they know, but they do. If either one of us is sick, Little One and Harley won't leave our sides. It's not uncommon for all of them to be sleeping close by when one of us isn't feeling well. Maybe it's their way of saying "I love you".

I really hope you feel better soon. That has to be a nightmare.

What type of headache is it and what has been tried so for to help?
I have a constant, though low level, usually right sided headache. I have had it for so long that I can ignore it - unless it flares up. It did last summer for a couple of weeks with some minor autonomic features.

And no, I don't believe cats know we're in pain precisely - just that something is different with us. Some don't even notice. Not even 30 minutes home from the hospital and I had Tomas running across my abdomen and incisions - very painful. He always runs across me when he wants something, though. Others fuss, climb on me (and not to snuggle), whine, etc even if I'm too sick to move.
If I lay around quietly long enough, for any reason, I will eventually accumulate cats on and around me. Thats just what they do to DH and I - and each other. You'll never find a cat sleeping solo on the bed. There's some unspoken rule that everyone needs a nap partner or six…

Some cats seem more sensitive/empathetic than others. The question is whether they're better at reading our body language, recognizing an alteration in our voices, or smelling some sort of chemical change in our bodies than the "oblivious" cats.

Originally Posted by jcat

Some cats seem more sensitive/empathetic than others. The question is whether they're better at reading our body language, recognizing an alteration in our voices, or smelling some sort of chemical change in our bodies than the "oblivious" cats.

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Maybe a good portion of it is body language, then? I'm sure illness has a smell, though if it was something chronic they may because used to it.
Maybe that's why my cats don't respond? Short of a limp if my back is really sore or just going to lay down (which I also do if I'm really sleepy) - people can't even tell if I'm in a lot of pain due to being able to hide it, I doubt a cat could figure it out.

I still think that for the most part that when we're laying down cats just take advantage of a quiet snuggle partner.

I'm still quite curious about gothicangel's headaches. If I could catch mine in one of it's flare ups and actually be able to see a specialist in time (vs. making the appointment and waiting a month or two to get in for it) I'd be interested in seeing if indomethacin works.
Has anyone tried that?

I'm pretty sure it has something to do with my neck. I had a tree fall on my head and soon after, the headaches started. I didn't make the connection until recently because for some reason I had forgotten that the incident had even happened. I ended up passing out one day, comming to, and remembering the whole incident from like 9 years ago. It was very scary.
I've been for X-rays, MRIs, and a neurologist (because I was starting to develop extreme weakness, tremors, and electric shocks up both my arms). The neurologist could not find a reason for it (he was a bit of a douch in my opinion ). I started seeing a chiropractor about a year ago for it, which helps the weakness and electric shocks in my arms, but it I dont go every week, the issues come back. The chiropractic is dulling it a tiny bit, but is not in any way fixing the issue.
I've been on many types of narcotic pain medications, anti-inflammatorys, and channel blockers. The Lyrica|(pain meds) helped somewhat, but made me unable to function properly. I'm off meds now, except for Morphine when I get a flare-up.
I'm in the process of looking for a new family doctor, and my current one is all about pushing pills- not fixing the issue. Dealing with this every day, for so long, is stressful. It makes me aggitated, cranky, tired, and emotional.
I have spent thousands of dollars trying to find what the problem is, and fix it, and nothing has worked.

A tree?! At least that's at pretty unique story to tell people. Have you ever tried a soft cervical collar? Cheap and it won't cause any harm to you. Be careful with the chiros, if you have arthritis in there from the trauma they can seriously mess you up, you may be better off just finding a good massage therapist.
I have some neck issues that cause tension headaches, too, luckily it's just the starting of DDD and some structural problems right now that still responds to anti-inflammatories (if I keep up on them) and acetaminophen. Mine is really sensitive to certain things, though, such as if I so much as accidentally pop it myself - I can trigger a headache and arm numbness. My mother's neck is further along DDD/arthritis and she has more issues, she also has damage from going to chiros for too many years (and osteoporosis) .

I know it's not really the nicest thing to hope for, but maybe eventually surgery can help your neck. And headaches make me cranky, too, I don't think we can help it. Good luck with the doctor hunt.

Originally Posted by gothicangel69

Your right LDG, no one should have to suffer like this. Some days, I almost wish I had a termal disease instead. At least then, I would know that the pain will eventually stop. I've had this for 9 years now, and just the thought of living with it indefinately is depressing.

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I know that feeling well. Gary often wishes this pain WERE killing him, and I understand. It is HORRIBLE to watch and be able to do nothing but research, hold a hand, or get a cool cloth............

For the electric shocks running up your arms... did anyone ever give you a diagnosis?

I had that in my fingers, then it spread to my hand, then started up my arm... felt like hot nails on fire being hammered into me. Did all kinds of tests, images, & etc., they coudln't find anything. My OBGYN suggested it might be neuropathy, and that I take mega doses of vitamin B6. IT WORKS. For me. Since you pee out the excess, it sure can't hurt to try. It took a month or so to work (if I remember correctly), so make sure you keep taking it for long enough.

I personally think my disks are bulging and pushing on the nerves that go from your neck to you arms, and neck to head. The chiro thinks this may be the problem as well, and when I look at my MRI, it does look like there 3-4 disks in my neck that are bulging, but the neurologist didn't think that was important (he seemed to only want to treat life- threatening illnesses, and when he realized that wasn't the case, said he couldn't help me) and my doctor wont even look at the MRI, even after me telling her that I think that may be the problem.
She doesn't like me going to the chrio either, but if I dont go, I cant even function. I have to snap my neck 5-6 times a day myself. I know thats not healthy, but if I wont, my arms start to tingle and feel weird.

I would be completely open with surgery, or anything they want to try, but my doctor doesn't seem to want to help me, hence the searching for a new one, which is difficult as most doctors arn't accepting new patients.

Yeah, it can be tough up there that way.

We thought my problem with the hands/arms was also in my neck - I do have an issue with two discs and bone spurs as well. Thank goodness the problem with my hands/arms wasn't that. B6 isn't expensive, and easy enough to rule out though.

^I have bone spurs on every single vertebrae in my neck. Too much movement in one direction or another and it hurts, especially if I look up as that really pinches some nerves.



Forget a neurologist for now. Find a good spine specialist, maybe even a surgeon. Look for the top spine clinic in your area and see if your regular doctor can get you in there.
They can recommend some gentle exercises, set you up with physical therapy/massage and if you're lucky ultrasound and electrical stimulation as part of that. If that helps at all you may be able to get a little TENS unit.
And if it doesn't help they can at least talk to you about injections for those disks and see about setting that up. That's usually what they try before any surgery is done (though you need a surgeon to do the injections).

Cervical DDD is common and does have treatment options. You shouldn't have to just deal with the pain like that when there's things that haven't been tried yet.

Spine specialist? Great idea! My current doctor wont recommend me, but hopefully I'll find one soon that will.
I'm willing to try anything to fix this issue.

Originally Posted by gothicangel69

I'm willing to try anything to fix this issue.

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Then try my suggestion of getting a soft cervical collar. Wear it whenever you start getting more sore or get a headache. If it fits correctly it can take some pressure off the disks and muscles.
Good luck doctor hunting. I hope you find someone who puts in some effort to help you.