When it comes to pain relief for our pets, veterinarians have our buddies covered with much the same medications that physicians use in people. But, of course, there’s one big difference — animals can’t tell us where and when it hurts. That can be especially tough to tell in cats.

Our feline friends tend to hide and hunker down when they’re in pain. That’s why it’s so important to key into any changes — no matter how subtle — that you see in your cat’s behavior at home. Unlike dogs, cats don’t behave on cue in the veterinary clinic, so the veterinary team depends on key information from cat parents.

You have a powerful tool in that regard — your smartphone. Taking a video of your cat to show your veterinarian can make all the difference in detecting pain responses. That’s when pictures really are worth a thousand words.