Does cat squinting mean pain if the vet says they're healthy?
Constant squinting can be a sign of underlying pain even when routine blood work and urine tests come back completely clear. This leaves owners confused about whether the behavior is just a quirky personality trait or a hidden discomfort that requires attention.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
Does cat squinting mean pain if the vet says they're healthy?
- 1taking the cat to the vet for blood and urine testsDid this help you?
- 2wondering if the behavior is normal or sleepinessDid this help you?
- 3Observing the cat for other signs of calm behaviorDid this help you?
- 4Assuming it is a normal resting position to block light or stay warmDid this help you?
- 5Reading online pain guidesDid this help you?
- 6Monitoring behavioral changes such as hiding, appetite shifts, or activity levelsDid this help you?
- 7Taking the cat to a vet for a professional examination or X-rayDid this help you?
- 8Assuming the cat is in pain if there is a visible deformity, regardless of their behaviorDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Cats don't show pain. I cat-sat with an amputee kitten who I had to pull off a curtain days after surgery.”source ↗
“He’s been squinting since he was a baby. His eyes are rarely fully open.”source ↗
“Just went to the vet last week and he is healthy. Urine and blood checked out negative for anything concerning.”source ↗
“Is he just weird? I know cats close their eyes when they like you but I also found out that it could also be pain?”source ↗
“It has made me wonder whether this is just a birth defect or a fracture , If its a fracture then why isn't it acting like its hurting?”source ↗
“My cat Pepper recently got diagnosed with CKD a few months ago, and now I’m super paranoid that she’s in pain or nauseous sometimes.”source ↗
“I just want to know if she’s in pain or not when she’s loafed up like this. I tried looking at different online guides but I’m so bad at understanding it.”source ↗