What is Painful Abdomen?
Pain located in the abdomen can result from conditions ranging from trauma to disease, so it is important to take your cat to a veterinarian for an examination as soon as possible if it is suffering.
There are numerous reasons why your cat may be experiencing abdominal pain. Cats are not normally expressive creatures when it comes to pain, but there are ways to detect if something is wrong in the abdominal region. Since the abdomen lies between the pelvis and the chest, a number of organs can be the culprit behind their pain.
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Symptoms of Painful Abdomen in Cats
Your cat may not always show signs to indicate it is experiencing abdominal pain. Also, pain can, unfortunately, be referred to another area of the body that isn't the real source. It is important to pay close attention to your cat to discover if it is experiencing abdominal pain. The main symptoms to look out for are listed below:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Blood in feces
- Difficulty urinating
- Change in appearance or posture (e.g. hunched over)
- Tenderness/pain when touched
- Weight loss
- Hiding away
- Fast or irregular breathing
Causes of Painful Abdomen in Cats
A number of conditions can bring about abdominal pain in your cat, including:
- Pancreatitis (inflammation in pancreas)
- Cholangiohepatitis / Triaditis
- Constipation
- Cancer
- Poisoning
- Ruptured bladder
- Urinary obstruction
- Dietary intolerance
- Kidney stones
- Ascites (buildup of fluid within abdominal cavity)
- Bacterial infection (e.g. pyometra, salmonellosis, campylobacteriosis)
- Parasites
- Intestinal obstruction
- IBD (inflammatory bowel disease)
- Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP, a fatal viral infection)
Diagnosis of Painful Abdomen in Cats
To diagnosis your cat's condition, the veterinarian will want a full medical history and will also conduct a thorough physical examination that may lead to further diagnostic testing. What information you provide the vet can help immensely in narrowing down potential causes. Knowing if there has been any reaction to a specific type of food, exposure to dangerous substances or circumstances, and all of the other symptoms your cat has shown can aid in this process.
If the vet has determined further tests are required, there are a few common ones they will conduct. The common diagnostic testing includes a CBC (complete blood count), a urinalysis, and a biochemical profile. The three tests are generally used to check for signs of inflammation or infection, and to examine how well the organs are functioning. A fecal test may be conducted as well if parasites are suspected.
Often, an X-ray or ultrasound of the abdomen will be taken. These scans can discover any inflammation, tumors, kidney stones, or ruptures in the organs.
Your vet may also perform a biopsy or even a peritoneal fluid analysis, which checks the type of fluid in your cat's abdomen if fluid is detected.
Treatment of Painful Abdomen in Cats
Since there is a range of causes for abdominal pain, treatment plans may vary.
Surgery
If cancer or tumors have been found, the vet will almost certainly recommend surgery to remove it. A surgical procedure is also sought in the case of a ruptured bladder or intestinal obstruction.
Medication
In the event of a parasitic infestation or a bacterial infection, your vet will prescribe a round of antiparasitic or antibiotics. Although these medications may come with risks (e.g. side effects, developing a resistance), the benefits typically outweigh those concerns. It is important that they are given as prescribed so that your cat will reap all of the benefits.
Some medications may be given as supportive care. If your cat is suffering significantly, your vet may recommend the use of pain medication for relief. Anti-nausea medicine may be given to help stop vomiting, and in the event of seizures (mainly due to poisoning), your cat may be given anti-seizure medication. Additionally, drugs that suppress the immune system may be prescribed, typically in the case of IBD.
Poison Treatment
When poisoning is the cause behind your cat's suffering, your vet will begin treatment immediately upon knowing which toxin was ingested, if possible. If your cat only recently swallowed the poison, its stomach will be emptied and activated charcoal or fluid therapy may be administered to help curb any ill effects.
Additional treatment methods may vary based on the specific toxin. For example, in rat poisoning, the vet may administer vitamin K.
Diet
In the event of IBD or other dietary complications, a change in diet may be the recommended plan of treatment. Your vet may recommend a hypoallergenic diet or even an elimination diet. Both can help with IBD as well as determining if your cat has an allergy.
Supportive Care
Beyond pain and anti-nausea medication, supportive care may include the administration of fluids to treat dehydration. Also, if your cat has the misfortune of being afflicted with FIP, supportive care may be the primary form of treatment, as the viral infection has a high mortality rate.
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Recovery of Painful Abdomen in Cats
It is important to follow the treatment plan laid out by your veterinarian, especially if medicine has been prescribed. Prognosis will vary with the cause of abdominal pain. Relapse can occur from some conditions, and some be be chronic. IBD, for example, cannot be cured and is managed, rather than resolved. Keep a watch on your cat's appetite as well as any other symptoms. If they return, be sure to take your cat into see the veterinarian.
A painful abdomen can be symptomatic of a serious medical issue. To avoid high vet care expenses, secure pet health insurance today. The sooner you insure your pet, the more protection you’ll have from unexpected vet costs.
Painful Abdomen Average Cost
From 344 quotes ranging from $200 - $3,000
Average Cost
$800
Top
Painful Abdomen Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Ragdoll
Seven Months
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Pain When Lifted. And Fever
My kitten is in pain when you pick him up sometimes and has a fever
Sept. 24, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. I apologize for the delay, this venue is not set up for urgent emails.
I hope that your pet is feeling better. If they are still having problems, It would be best to have your pet seen by a veterinarian, as they can examine them, see what might be going on, and get any testing or treatment taken care of that might be needed.
Oct. 23, 2020
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Tabby
Five Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Runny Nose, Hisses When You Touch His Belly,
we just moved from WA to FL by car. My cat Lucian has caught the same cold the other cats got but is also peeing on my things and if you touch his stomache he hisses. Due to covid, no vet will see him till the end of August. He spends most of the day and night sleeping in my arms. Im not sure what to do. I still see him play with his brother late at night but to touch his belly he will attack and hiss.
Aug. 3, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Thank you for your question.
Cats can be affected by stress by developing bladder issues, and I do not know any veterinarian that would make you wait until the end of August if you call and say you think your cat may be having bladder problems. That can become an emergency somewhat quickly, so we tend to prioritize that sort of thing earlier. That may not be what's going on with him, and once he is examined your Veterinarian may be able to see something else going on, but that's what I would do if I were you, as it is possible that is what's going on. I hope that he is okay!
Aug. 3, 2020
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Short haired cat
About 11 months
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
He Isn'T Jumping And Seems To Be Eating More Than Usual. Also I Think He May Have Stomach Pain But I'M Not Sure.
Listed above
Aug. 1, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
1 Recommendations
Thank you for your question.
If you think he has a painful abdomen and isn't jumping as much, he may have an injured neck or back, or an intestinal infection.
It would be best to have him seen by a veterinarian, as they can examine him and see what might be going on.
I hope that all goes well for him.
Aug. 1, 2020
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Tortoiseshell cat
Two Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Yowling When Moving Around
He will stay as still as possible but when he does move he yowls. He hisses at all the other catswhen he is moving around. He will let my pet him but when it comes to his stomach he will extend his claws and growl.
July 28, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. From your description, your cat sounds very uncomfortable. Unfortunately, without being able to examine him, I don't know why that is happening. It would be best to have him seen by a veterinarian, as they can see him, figure out what it is that is bothering him so much, and get treatment for him. I hope that everything goes well for him.
July 28, 2020
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Domestic short hair
Fifteen Years
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Hiding
My cat is 15 years old and last week started hiding in the closet. He eats , but now won’t unless food is brought to him and won’t use the litter box. He is urinating and pooping in the closet he is hiding in. Our vet has done a wellness check and blood and stool are normal.
July 26, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
1 Recommendations
Thank you for your question.
I'm not sure from your description if your veterinarian checked a urine sample for him? But that might be something that needs to be done. When your veterinarian examined him, did they comment on whether he maybe arthritic or whether something else might be going on? Since they were able to examine him and see what might be wrong, it may be a good idea to follow up with them and ask what they think is happening if he is not improving. It is difficult for me to say without being able to see him, but when cats start to hide it usually means something is not right. I hope that you and your veterinarian are able to figure out what's going on with him, even if it means a recheck examination.
July 26, 2020
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Long haired Tabby cat mix
Persephone
17 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Hairloss
Distended Belly
Big Appetite
Not Pregnant
My cat has a problem. My mother and I have been worrying for a long time ( a year and a half) because my cat doesn’t look normal. Her spine and her tailbone looks like she is extremely malnourished even though we feed her 3 times a day maybe more. Her belly is shaped like a bowling ball that has been stretched sideways and it feels hard at the bottom and almost squishy at the top. At first my mother and I thought that it might be worms but we tried worm medication and nothing happened. Then we thought maybe it’s hairball blockage. We’ve gone through about 27 tubes of paw paste and hairball gel and she still isn’t better; in fact she’s getting worse. She eats a lot of soft food with the paste in it and she throws it up most of the time, when we give her hard food she throws that up too. She has never been to a vet because we can’t get her in a cat carrier at all and we also can’t afford it. I just really want to know whats wrong with my baby. If you need pictures of her you can find me on Facebook @Teyy Patrick. I Also just really want her to get better.
Calico
Luna
1 Year
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Weight Loss
Drowsiness
Loss Of Appetite
Pain In Abdomen
Pain When Lifted
Lack Of Liquids
Lack Of Movem
Serious Pain In Abdominal Area
My cat Luna who we have had since a newborn has always been a very happy and friendly cat who always came when called today she was sleeping pretty much the whole day, didn’t eat or drink a thing so has suffered weight loss, which isn’t like her as she is a big eater, and when I went to get her she didn’t come in fact she didn’t move at all so I picked her up and she moaned and cried all the way inside which also isn’t like her as she doesn’t vocalise much at all either and she has small swelling in the abdomen area and cries every time I move her leg or touch it, please help
Painful Abdomen Average Cost
From 344 quotes ranging from $200 - $3,000
Average Cost
$800
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Easily compare quotes from the most trusted pet insurance companies in the United States.
