Pain is currently a "hot" topic in the veterinary world. Cats can be some of the most difficult patients to detect pain in.
While most cats who have had basic surgical procedures such as spaying and neutering (as opposed to orthopedic procedures which are almost always very painful) show minimal pain, there can be subtle signs. We have a very active feral spay/neuter program in our area as well as low cost spay/neuter clinics. If you work at one of these, it will be helpful to look for any signs of pains in the post-op cats.
Spring Farm CARES runs the Feral Cat TNR (Trap/Neuter/Release) program for Oneida County. These cats are held by volunteers until ready to go back to their colonies. Spring Farm CARES also runs the Happy Hearth Spay and Neuter Program which provides vouchers for spays and neuters for financially stressed families in Oneida County. Both programs are constantly in need of donations, so if you have some spare cash, don't hesitate to send it their way.
Cats who are hurting may crouch and "look" uncomfortable. They may twitch their tails - a wagging tail is not always a sign all is well with dogs and almost always not a good sign in a cat! Some cats will strike out with a paw if you even get close when they are hurting. Cats are also much less likely than dogs to be "bite inhibited" so you need to be careful around a cat in pain. Don't take it personally - they simply hurt.
On the other end of the spectrum, some cats simply hide or lie very still and may even purr. Colorado State has a Universal Pain Scale for cats - you can download it by going here. Sometimes the most obvious sing of pain in a cat is not what she does, but what she doesn't do. The absence of normal behaviors is important in assessing the comfort of your cat. You can read more about signs of pain in cats here.
With your own cat you have the advantage of knowing her normal behaviors. It can be trickier with a feral cat or a foster cat. Still, look for general signs such as eating, drinking, using the litterbox and moving about. If you feel your cat is in pain, don't hesitate to contact your veterinarian!
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