Scientists at Queen Mary University of London found that insects have an ability called ‘nociception’ which allows them to “detect potentially or actually damaging stimuli”. Humans have a similar process as the source of signals which translate into a sensation … continue reading…
The words in the title are from Peter Singer who wrote the acclaimed book, Animal Liberation, published in 1975. In the book he argued that humankind had a tendency toward speciesism meaning that humans attach far greater importance to themselves … continue reading…
Yes, the mouse that your cat just killed felt pain and fear as animals have the same ability as humans to transmit nerve signals from the peripheral parts of the body to the brain to signal injury. Therefore, from a … continue reading…
A reliable source, Nathan Winograd, tells me that cockroaches can physically suffer. They have a central nervous system i.e. a brain and nerves, and a peripheral nervous system which connects the brain and the spinal cord to the rest of … continue reading…
Before the first laws protecting animals against human abuse were enacted there was an enlightenment about the potential of animals to suffer. The English philosopher, Jeremy Bentham, said, in response to Kant: “The question is not, Can they reason? nor … continue reading…
I think the best answer to the question in the title is that a cat’s diseased kidneys do not cause pain themselves but where there is chronic kidney disease there is likely to be uraemia which is a condition in … continue reading…
Percy’s brother passed away yesterday. He’s been looking all day and then jumped up and just looked at me like this… Do you think domestic cats feel sad, as this cat gives us the impression that he does, when they … continue reading…
No, cats do not fear death. The reason is straightforward. Cats are not self-aware by which I mean self-conscious. Some people will dispute that statement. I’ll proceed though. As they are not self-aware when they are in pain or discomfort … continue reading…
The question in the title presupposes that all Scottish Fold cats suffer from chronic pain but my research indicates that this is not necessarily true. Whether a Scottish Fold suffers chronic and severe pain depends on how the cat was … continue reading…
This is a follow up page on the Feline Grimace Scale which is a way of assessing if a cat feels pain moderately or severely or is pain-free. This is an interesting picture showing a cat in pain. It sums … continue reading…
Yes, IBD in cats is painful. It is painful in people and therefore it must be the same for cats. Also, I know this because today I was reading about a study on facial expressions when cats are in pain. … continue reading…
Feline constipation is a fairly common condition that many cat owners may encounter over the course of their kitty’s lifetime. Since healthy cats normally will pass one healthy bowel movement a day; if your cat is only defecating every few … continue reading…
A discussion on the various aspects of feline perception of pain. It seems strange to write it, but there was a time when experts and some veterinarians believed that cats did not feel pain. It is hard to believe today. … continue reading…
Is paracetamol toxic to cats? The answer is a resounding YES. This is a little story that underlines that sentence. Claire Pritchard had three cats: Midnight, Maisie and Moo-Moo. She lives in Bournemouth, England, UK, a nice seaside town on … continue reading…
by Michael There is acute pain brought on by trauma and chronic pain due to long term health issues. The word “chronic” in medical language means persistent and long lasting. It is fairly easy to assess acute pain suffered by … continue reading…
