Veterinary care now, pay later! - Find out more
Veterinary care now, pay later! - Find out more
Studies have shown that up to 90% of cats aged over 12 years are showing signs of osteoarthritis (Hardie et al, 2002). However, cats are very adept at hiding any illness (especially pain) as this would be seen as a sign of weakness in the wild. Hence the signs of arthritis in cats can be extremely subtle and the disease often goes undiagnosed.
Arthritis is usually a result of the ongoing wear and tear and instability in the joints, although other factors such as injury, genetic makeup, infection, immune disease and cancer can also affect the progression. In cats, particular breed dispositions include Scottish folds, Burmese, Maine Coons and Abyssinians.
Arthritis can affect one or more joints anywhere in the body; however, the most common joints affected in cats are the elbows, hips and spine. Most of these joints depend on a layer of cartilage acting as a cushion which also provides a smooth surface so the adjoining bones can move freely over each other. This movement is assisted by the lubrication provided by synovial fluid in joints.
With arthritis, the cartilage deteriorates and the synovial fluid loses its lubricating properties so that movement of the bones becomes less smooth, leading to discomfort and reduced mobility.
In cats, it can be much harder than with dogs to pick up signs of joint pain – especially as cats with arthritis generally don’t limp! Instead, cats tend to change their behaviour. Signs you may notice include:
Reduced movement
Changes in grooming behaviour
Changes in personality
Changes in activity level
The first step in managing arthritis is to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian for a thorough clinical examination. Remembering that cats will put on a brave face at the clinic, your observations at home are integral in building an accurate history and providing those subtle indications that your cat may be in pain. Generally, blood tests and radiographs will be required to determine exactly what is happening in your cat’s joints and to assess for any concurrent disease that may be present. A personalised plan can then be put together for his/ her individual situation.
To help your cat be happy and enjoy life again, there are 3 important areas that we will focus on:
This is the most important aspect of managing any animal with arthritis. Overweight animals will place proportionally more weight on their joints and therefore cause more localised inflammation and irritation to the joints- which in turn can hasten the progression of arthritis. Cats need to lose weight gradually to prevent metabolic problems. Please discuss the best way to do this with your veterinary health care team.
In mild cases, some simple steps taken at home will help to reduce their level of pain and discomfort.
Various veterinary treatments are available to manage osteoarthritis in pets. The best option will depend on a number of different factors involving your cat: such as age, the severity of signs, progression of the disease process and whether they have any other health problems. Importantly all arthritis patients should be accurately diagnosed before starting a treatment plan.
The different treatments that can be offered include:
If you feel that your cat may have any of the symptoms mentioned above or are concerned that your cat may be suffering from arthritis, please speak to one of our healthcare team.