Cat Arthritis – What it is and How to Help

Just like humans, cats have cartilage between their joints that provides cushion as they move around. However, as cats get older, this cartilage can deteriorate and cause inflammation and pain. Other factors can influence the onset of arthritis such as injuries, obesity, or poor nutrition – so it is important to note the potential for arthritis to occur in younger cats as well. Cat arthritis is extremely common and there is no cure – however – there are many steps you can take to spot the signs of arthritis, treat it, and modify your home to reduce your cat’s arthritis pain.

Symptoms

If you start noticing your cat hesitating to jump up to their windowsill, favorite cat tower lounge, or see signs of difficulty moving up and down in general – keep a close eye on them. Other signs may be difficulty getting in and out of a litter box, reluctance to climb up and down stairs, or unexpected aggression when certain spots of their body are touched. Finally, if you notice disinterest in playtime, lack of grooming, and hiding frequently – these are all major symptoms of pain and problems, and a veterinarian should be contacted.

These symptoms in aging cats are often brushed off as just “getting older” but instead points to a serious medical condition. When these symptoms begin, grab your cell phone! Collecting videos of what you see your cat struggling with can be tremendously helpful when you consult your veterinarian.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Arthritis can occur anywhere in your cat from knees, hips, and back, to their jawbone. However, the lower back area is a common spot for arthritis to occur because of the painful spurs cats have on the underside of their spines. Because it can occur anywhere, your vet will likely do a full body exam, order blood work, and perform imaging tests. Blood work can rule out the possibility of another disease causing these symptoms, and imaging can determine the location and severity of the arthritis and aid in treatment options.

The first approach to treating arthritis may be getting your cat’s pain under control. NSAIDs are traditionally prescribed for cats to manage pain, but they must be used as prescribed and with caution. New treatments are being developed for osteoarthritis, like Solensia, which is a first of its kind monoclonal antibody drug known as a “gamechanger” throughout the veterinary world for its effectiveness and unique approach to treatment. However, you aren’t limited to pharmaceuticals. There are many all-natural supplements, acupuncture, or massage therapy routes you can discuss with your veterinarian as well.

Once the pain is managed, you may need to think about weight control for your beloved companion. Excess weight puts more pressure on your cat’s painful joints, limiting their mobility, making weight loss difficult. However, once their pain is managed, your cat should become more active again, thus aiding in maintaining a healthy weight. You should work with your veterinarian to make a diet and exercise plan to provide joint support, keep your cat safely moving, and promote healthy weight loss.

Lifestyle and Home Changes

The first change you should make to avoid unwanted behavioral issues in your home is adjusting your litter boxes. If you have small, enclosed litter boxes, replace them with larger ones that are easier to move around in. It is also important that each floor of your home has an easy-to-access litter box, so your cat doesn’t have to make a painful climb to “go”. Look for boxes with low, simple entrances, and avoid high steps, climbing, or jumping-type entrance boxes. For the crafty and thrifty folks out there – you can make your own litter boxes by cutting a hole in the side of a large plastic storage tote and create a custom-made box for your companion!

Ensure that your cat’s food and water dishes are not only in an easy to get to location, but that they are raised enough off the ground that your cat does not have to strain their back and neck to eat or drink. A good height is about elbow level. You can put your cat’s dishes on a box or buy raised dishes and water fountains. Using raised dishes is not only good for arthritis pain, it can also help with digestion and reducing vomiting!

Cats with arthritis love super warm beds and there are many options for plug-in, gentle heated animal bedding, but do not use human heating pads as their skin in much more sensitive than ours and that can cause burns. There are also many options for orthopedic pet beds you can place throughout your home that offer more support for your lounging feline friend. Building or buying ramps and steps that go up to your cat’s favorite places is a very important addition to consider – don’t make your cat feel stuck on the ground! Give them some sense of mobility and belonging back on the couch – or bed – or windowsill!

What is the Arthritis Outlook?   

While you can manage weight throughout your cat’s lifetime, you cannot always predict growth abnormalities and injuries and therefore can’t predict if your cat will develop arthritis or not. However, cats with arthritis can live a long, normal, and healthy life! But you are the expert on your cat and your cat’s behavior, so pay attention. If you see something out of the ordinary, even if it seems small, take a video and discuss it with your veterinarian. Your cat feels pain and expresses it, you just have to learn how to speak their language!

written by Mattie Jensen