Is Your Cat Arthritic?

As cats get older they become less active, often doing less jumping up and climbing than they used to.

Many owners assume this is just to be expected as part of the normal aging process, but old cats move less because they are in pain.

Arthritis affects up to one in three cats, with the majority of older cats having some degree of arthritic pain.  Cats may sleep more, play and climb less, and sometimes no longer groom properly.  It is not usual for cats to vocalise (cry or meow) when they are in pain.

We have a short questionnaire available at our clinic which will help you determine whether your cat is arthritic.

Arthritis of old age occurs through 'wear and tear' of the joints causing thinning of the cushioning layers of cartilage.  This results in bone grinding directly on bone, which is acutely painful.

Primary treatment usually involves an anti-inflammatory called Metacam, given once daily.  This is a liquid medication which is well tolerated and easily given - I have not found a cat yet who won't eat it on their food.

If in doubt about your cat's pain level I recommend a medication trial: if you notice a marked improvement in your cat's activity level when on Metacam then you'll know they were previously in considerable pain.

The latest treatment available for arthritic cats is a Hill's food called j/d ('joint diet').  This has been clinically proven to provide a measurable improvement in cat's activity levels, by naturally reducing inflammation in your cat's joints. 

Other things you can do to help your arthritic cat are providing a soft, warm place to sleep, maintaining their body weight in a healthy range, and encouraging regular, gentle exercise.  Together we can help your cat enjoy their senior years to the full.