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. 2016 Feb 24;11(2):e0150040. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0150040

Table 2. Behaviours considered by participants as not sufficient (unreliable) to infer pain, but shown by cats in high and/or low level pain.

Behaviour not sufficient for pain Presence in low level pain Presence in high level pain Participant comments
Sitting more often Rare Rare Difficult to evaluate
Rolled up Rare Frequent Associated with fear and stress
Standing longer than usual Rare Rare
Lying on its side Rare Frequent
Crouching Rare Frequent
Body tense Frequent Frequent
Hissing Frequent Frequent More related to cat temperament
Meowing Rare Frequent
Crying Rare Frequent
Half blink Rare Frequent
Pupil dilation* Rare Frequent
Ear rotated Rare Frequent
Ear downward Rare Frequent
Ear flattener Frequent Frequent Sign of fear
Panting* Rare Frequent
Seeking contact with a person Frequent Frequent Depends on personality
Less rubbing on objects Rare Frequent Sign of distress
Over grooming Frequent Frequent
Teeth grinding Rare Rare Could be related to altered chewing pattern. Rare sign in cats
Trembling or shivering Rare Frequent Could be associated with fear and stress. Rare sign in cats
House soiling Rare Frequent Maybe indicative of change in mobility
Spitting Rare Frequent
Purring Rare Rare
Tongue showing** Rare Frequent
Mouth semi open Rare Frequent More a respiratory cardiac sign
Hiding down in the litter box Rare Frequent General sign for systemic illness in cats
Escaping when trying to catch Rare Frequent Important if is a change in the normal behaviour
Trying to scratch someone Rare Frequent
Trying to bite someone Rare Frequent
Reduction urination Rare Frequent
Appetite increase Rare Rare Is not a sign of pain
Scratching less Rare Frequent
Sleeping more Frequent Frequent
Sleeping less Rare Frequent
Lying ventrally Frequent Frequent Is not a sign of pain

* the consensus was that these behaviours were related more to acute conditions, but that they were not reliable indicators of pain.

** this behaviour was not related to either acute or chronic pain, but considered as present in high level pain, all the others were related to both (acute and chronic) situations.