Osteoarthritis in Cats
29 March 2024
As high as 90% of cats over 12 years of age have some form of arthritis.
Arthritis is the development of chronic and irreversible inflammation of the joints of a cat.
Signs of Osteoarthritis in Cats
Arthritis is the irreversible and progressive deterioration of joints that causes pain and a reduction in joint motion. It affects cats of all ages but predominantly pets >10 years of age.
Common signs of arthritis in a cat:
- Stiffness
- Hesitation to jump from heights
- Poor landing from jumping
- Sleep more
- Rough fur from poor grooming
- Long nails from less movement
- Change in behavior e.g. irritable
Arthritis management is based on:
- Joint stability
- Controlled exercise that decreases joint strain and builds muscles to support joints such as walking on flat surfaces
- Weight control
- Diet control e.g. foods rich in Omega fatty acids or veterinary prescription diets
- Veterinary medicines such as pain control, nutraceuticals, and joint protective drugs such as injectable polysulfated glycosaminoglycans (PSGAG)
Tips to help manage pets with arthritis:
- A warm environment as colder weather can worsen symptoms
- Placement of their bed away from cold draughts
- Soft but firm bedding
- Ramps onto the couch or bed so that the pet does not have to jump
- Avoid stairs
- Avoid slippery surfaces such as tiles
- Regular grooming
- Maintain parasite control
- Cut their nails regularly
- Weight loss to take excessive pressure off the joints - this should be gradual and managed by your veterinarian to avoid sudden weight loss
- Avoid rough play
- Litter tray with a lowered wall for easy access
If the pet appears in pain and does not eat or drink, seek veterinary attention. Your vet will be able to assign an arthritis management program to help improve the pet's quality of life.
This digital toolkit includes ready-to-go client communications about pet care, including: Social media posts to help drive more awareness of OA in cats Handouts to use on your website or in newsletters Marketing campaigns
Arthritis or osteoarthritis is the irreversible and progressive deterioration of joints that causes pain and a reduction in joint motion. It affects dogs of all ages but predominantly pets greater than 10 years of age.
