Abdominal Pain in Cats: Causes, Symptoms, & Treatment

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Abdominal pain can be crippling in cats, and it’s always difficult to see our beloved kitties in discomfort. Abdominal pain in cats can have several causes, from gastroenteritis to trauma, and it may be difficult to know what’s going on at home, so veterinary advice is usually required. Use this article as a guide to understand better what’s going on with your cat showing signs of abdominal pain and when getting in to see your vet is needed.

Causes of Abdominal Pain in Cats

When we think about abdominal pain in ourselves, we often think just about a stomach ache, gas pains, or maybe constipation. But the abdomen contains a lot of other things besides just our digestive tract. We’ve also got a liver, gallbladder, kidneys, spleen, and urinary bladder. There are other things that may occur in the abdomen that can cause pain too.

That means there are a lot of other potential causes of abdominal pain in cats besides just a simple tummy ache. We’ll review some of the more common ones.

In general, here are the common categories of abdominal pain in cats:

• Gastrointestinal pain: Vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation can be uncomfortable.
• Other abdominal organ pain: Any inflammation, infection, or other disease like cancer that affects an organ can cause pain.
• Pain associated with the lining of the abdomen (the peritoneum): Tissue lining the abdominal cavity can have disorders affecting it that cause pain and discomfort, which is called peritonitis.
• Pain coming from somewhere outside the abdomen that looks like abdominal pain (referred pain): The most common is back pain, which is discussed further below.
• Abdominal wall pain: Trauma, like bruising or an external wound may show as abdominal pain.

Now let’s look at some of the more common, specific causes that fit under these categories.

Gastrointestinal Pain

Gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis is generalized inflammation of the stomach and intestines. There can be many causes like dietary indiscretion (for my cat Annie, it’s those crunchy fall leaves that blow in the door), internal parasites, infections, or dietary allergies. Most cases of gastroenteritis occur acutely. Typically, we see vomiting, diarrhea, and reduced appetite.

Gastrointestinal Foreign Body

Cats like to eat things they shouldn’t. Sometimes, things like this get stuck. Common foreign bodies for cats include yarn/string, tree ornament hooks, rubber bands, hair ties, and plant material.

Other Abdominal Organ Pain

Pancreatitis

The pancreas is an organ that sits close to the stomach and intestinal tract. Inflammation of the pancreas can be very uncomfortable. In many cases anorexia (lack of appetite) is the most common sign in cats, but vomiting and diarrhea may also occur.

Liver and Gallbladder

The gallbladder sits within the liver and releases bile to aid in fat digestion. When cats have inflammation of their gallbladder this is called cholangitis. If the liver is also involved, this is called cholangiohepatitis. Cats may have either, leading to a condition we call cholangitis/cholangiohepatitis syndrome, or CCHS. The gallbladder, pancreas, and small intestinal tract are all closely associated in cats. Studies have shown that about 80% of cats with CCHS can have small intestinal inflammation. About half of cats will also have evidence of pancreatic disease. When all three are involved, this is called triaditis.

Urinary bladder

Urinary bladder inflammation in cats is a very common cause of abdominal pain. Most urgent and concerning is when a urinary obstruction/blockage is present. Cats with a urinary blockage will appear to have bad abdominal pain, though the pain is really localized to an enlarged and painful bladder.

Pain Associated With the Lining of the Abdomen (The Peritoneum)

Peritonitis

Peritonitis is defined as inflammation of the lining of the abdominal cavity. The peritoneum is a thin layer of tissue that lines the abdomen and encases all of the organs and tissues that reside inside. Inflammation, infection, organ disease, and cancer in the abdomen can all lead to peritonitis. Fluid accumulation in the abdomen, called ascites, may occur in some cases, especially with feline infectious peritonitis (FIP).

Pain Coming From Somewhere Outside the Abdomen That Looks Like Abdominal Pain (Referred Pain)

Back Pain

Referred pain describes when we have pain coming from somewhere outside the abdomen but when pressure is put on the abdomen, a pain response is seen. The most common scenario where we see this is the presence of back pain. When pressure is put on the abdomen, this will in turn put pressure on an inflamed intervertebral disc or sore muscle around the spine, leading to signs of pain.

Abdominal Wall Pain

Wounds and Trauma

Pain or inflammation of the outer tissues of the belly may also lead to the appearance of generalized abdominal pain. An external wound like a bite wound from another cat, is one example. Another could be impact trauma and bruising from a fall or other accident. This type of abdominal pain is more common in cats that go outdoors.

Symptoms of Abdominal Pain in Cats

Abnormal hiding behavior can be a sign of pain or discomfort in cats. ivSky/ Shutterstock.com

Regardless of the cause of abdominal pain, there are several common symptoms we can see:

It is important to remember all these different signs, and not to rely solely on how your cat reacts to you touching their belly, as there are many cats who don’t like their bellies touched even when they’re feeling normal. I see this often during wellness visits where cats just really don’t like the belly squishing feeling of having their abdomen palpated. And some cats who are sick for other reasons may not want to be touched anywhere, including the abdomen. These situations may give the false impression of abdominal pain.

Complications of Having Abdominal Pain in Cats

The most concerning complication of abdominal pain is appetite. Most cats with abdominal pain, regardless of the cause, will have a reduced appetite (or their appetite will drop off completely). A complete loss of appetite can lead to a complication called hepatic lipidosis, which is an urgent medical condition in its own right.

Diagnosis of Abdominal Pain in Cats

X-rays are one test a vet may recommend to find the cause of abdominal pain in cats. Frau aus USA/ Shutterstock.com

If you suspect abdominal pain or if your cat is showing other signs of illness, like poor appetite or stomach upset, it’s best to schedule an exam with your veterinarian.

Abdominal palpation is a routine part of any veterinary exam. If abdominal pain is present, your vet will be able to get a better idea of where that pain is coming from. In some cases, like peritonitis, the pain may be generalized and hard to pinpoint, at which point further testing will be recommended.

Further testing for abdominal pain often includes x-rays and ultrasound.

X-rays: X-rays (radiographs) can be useful for looking for an overall appearance of the abdomen. They are the first choice for evaluating concerns for stomach or intestinal foreign material or blockages. They can also detect the presence of bladder stones.

Ultrasound: Scans can be used to look at the tissues in the abdomen in more detail. Whereas x-rays give you a survey appearance of the abdomen, ultrasound gets more specific details of what those organs look like. Ultrasound scanning is also the most sensitive method for detecting fluid in the abdomen.

Treatments for Abdominal Pain in Cats

Giving pain medication is only one part of treating abdominal pain in cats. It is also extremely important to treat the underlying cause of pain too. Veera/ Shutterstock.com

The treatment options for abdominal pain in cats will ultimately depend on the underlying cause. While pain medications are often prescribed, using pain medication alone does not treat the reason why abdominal pain is present, allowing the condition to persist or worsen.

For example, if a cat has abdominal pain because of vomiting or diarrhea, getting the vomiting and diarrhea to stop is crucial to alleviating the discomfort. Likewise, treating a cat with a urinary blockage with pain medication is important, but the blockage has to be relieved for the cat to survive the blockage and for ultimate relief of the pain.

Cat Care Tips

Because abdominal pain can be a generalized symptom in cats and because cats are notorious for hiding signs of pain, it’s important not to make any assumptions. If you think your cat has abdominal pain or if you are seeing other signs of illness, the underlying condition may already be more serious. It’s best not to attempt home care but to get your kitty to a vet so that the cause can be determined and appropriate treatments recommended.

Once your cat is at home, make sure to follow your vet’s instructions carefully, especially with use of any pain medication. It can be dangerous to give pain medication more often than is needed. Giving larger or more frequent amounts than recommended may have adverse effects.

If you are concerned your cat is still showing signs of abdominal pain after a veterinary visit, make sure to give your veterinary clinic a follow-up call for further advice.