Headaches are a common sequel to stress and anxiety and yes! Cats do get headaches. Pain on touch especially on the head or face accompanied by whining, excessive purring and inappetence could be leading symptoms of headache in cats. As you read on, you will find out if cats could get headaches and migraines, their symptoms and their causes.
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Do Cats Get Headaches
When headaches are viewed as mere head pain, it would be easily understood that cats do have a high chance of getting them. Headache in cats has not been studied enough but research has gone into trying to find out what could lead to it. Many factors that could cause head pain or headaches in cats range from genetics, and environmental to health conditions.
Let’s dive into the possible factors that could lead to headaches in cats:
Stress
Cats are creatures of habit, they can eat and sleep at almost the same time of the day. Changing their bed space, feeding time or even changing the position of their feeding bowl could lead to stress. Anything that could disrupt their routine could cause them stress or make them anxious thereby predisposing them to headaches.
Allergy
Even as humans, we get headaches from minor triggers like lights or sound, and so do cats. Cats do have their allergies which could be triggered by chemicals, plants or even paint. When the environment is not convenient or there is the presence of an allergenic trigger, cats could develop headaches due to stress imposed by the allergies. What they smell, taste or hear could be a potential cause of headaches for cats.
Genetics
Cats have been used in some studies as experimental models for headaches and migraine research. There could be a link to genetics being a leading factor in headaches in cats.
Medical Conditions
Having a medical condition such as hypertension or a neurological condition could lead to headaches in cats. These conditions could have an effect on blood flow and blood supply to the brain which puts a lot of stress on the brain. Parasitic infections such as Schistosomiasis or blood flukes localized in the brain could pose a major threat to a cat’s health and come along with symptoms like headaches.
Though the symptoms of headaches in cats are not easy to identify, these are common symptoms of headaches in cats to look out for:
- Head shaking
- Lack of appetite
- Excessive purring/whining
- Increased light/sound sensitivity
- Pain when touched in the face/head
- Aggression
- Vomiting
“Increased sensitivity, irritability and discomfort are symptoms of headache in cats”, - Reddit User
If you worry your cat might have headaches, seeing a Veterinarian would be the best option. Also, having some coverage like the Petcube Emergency Fund will help you spend less as it offers $3000 coverage in emergency Vet fees. For reading this article, you can claim a 27% discount when you subscribe using the exclusive link.
Can Cats Get Migraines
A report shows that cats do feel migraines in a similar way humans do, with its effect usually felt mostly on the face. If cats could get headaches then migraines could be possible since severe headaches could lead to migraines.
Factors that cause migraines in cats are similar to what causes headaches such as stress, sensitivity to sound or light, environmental allergies and disease conditions. Migraines are more prolonged and painful than headaches, especially on the face and head. Migraines are leading signs of something more serious going on in the body and should be resolved urgently.
I once had a cat who suffered a severe headache that developed into migraines. The symptoms became prolonged and more painful not until the inciting factor was removed and resolved.
“Migraine in cats could be a symptom of an underlying condition such as hydrocephalus in cats, characterized by pain and discomfort”, - Dr. Michael Kearley
To treat migraines in cats, the underlying cause needs to be identified and resolved. Many procedures go into detecting migraine itself due to its difficulty to diagnose. Common signs of headaches, pain and discomfort can only help in giving a tentative diagnosis but not a definitive one.
Conclusion
Headaches and migraines happen to cats, but identifying their symptoms is difficult and not straightforward. Observing your cat’s behaviour and routine change would give you a clue if your cat is experiencing headaches or migraine. Headaches and migraines are sometimes temporary but could be a leading sign of a health condition and would need a Veterinarian’s attention when prolonged.