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What are the symptoms and treatments for older cat with arthritis?

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It’s easy to miss arthritis in older cats as behavioural changes can be as common as physical symptoms.

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The most common symptoms of arthritis in older cats include:

• Being less willing to interact, hiding or being grumpy
• Stiffness or limping
• Hesitating before jumping up or using the front legs to complete a jump
• Reluctance to jump down – choosing easier routes
• Being slow to climb up or down stairs – taking one step at a time or breaks
• Reduced play, especially physical
• Stopping or reducing grooming, especially over the back
• Pooing or weeing outside of the litter tray

An estimated 60 to 90% of older cats suffer from arthritis in one or more joints. Just like in humans, it causes pain, inflammation and stiffness of the joints. In a healthy joint, the ends of the bones are covered in cartilage which acts as a shock absorber and allows the joint to move smoothly. In a joint with arthritis, the cartilage is damaged. This causes discomfort on movement and, in severe cases, can mean bone rubs on bone which is very painful. The body tries to limit movement by creating spurs of new bone called osteophytes. Unfortunately, these only add to discomfort.

The symptoms of arthritis in older cats can be easily mistaken as just getting older or slowing down. So, keeping an eye on your cat as they age is important. Catching arthritis early means your cat will have a better quality of life later in life.

4 ways to spot arthritis in older cats

1. Are they less sociable?

Are they less willing to interact with you or your family? Do they hide away a lot? Are they generally grumpier than they used to be? If the answer is yes to all or some of these, it could be a sign your senior cat has arthritis.

2. Have they changed how they move around?

Cats are normally able to jump up on kitchen counters, fences and walls easily. If they start hesitating before jumping up, or you notice they’re using their front legs to pull themself forward at the end of the jump, it could be a sign it’s too painful or difficult for them because of their joints.

If you spot that they’re getting more  reluctant to jump down, or choosing easier routes instead, this could be another indicator that it’s arthritis and not just getting older.

It’s the same with stairs, if they’re slow to climb up or down, or taking one step at a time or breaks, it might be time to call a vet, just to make sure.

3. Are they not as playful as they used to be?

Older cats are not as playful as kittens, but if your cat used to jump and chase toys but you’ve now noticed they’re not as active as they used to be, this could be because their joints are uncomfortable.

4. Are they not as clean as they used to be?

Cats are famously clean, so changes to their hygiene is a big clue as to whether they’re developing arthritis as they’re getting older. If they’ve reduced or stopped grooming, especially over their back, it could be because  it’s too painful to reach. You may see this as the fur looking duller, being dirty, or starting to get matted.

Another warning sign is  pooing or weeing outside of the litter tray. Especially if the tray has high sides, it could be a sign your cat is not comfortable climbing in and out due to joint pain.

How vets treat older cats with arthritis

Unfortunately, arthritis cannot be cured. And its symptoms worsen over time. But with the right treatments and management, your older cat can lead a comfortable life.

An x-ray is required for a conclusive diagnosis, but your vet will often have a strong suspicion of arthritis based on examination and what you are observing at home. For a lot of cats, trialling treatment is considered more appropriate than arranging x-rays.

Your vet will be able to  recommend a treatment plan for your cat. This may include  pain relief, anti-inflammatories, joint modulation or even surgery. However, the most commonly used medical treatments include:

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Other anti-inflammatories
• Monoclonal Antibody Therapy (mAb)

Surgery isn’t the best solution in most cases, and is typically only considered if other treatments aren’t able to keep your cat comfortable.

If you’re worried about the cost of treating your cat with arthritis, take a look at our Healthy Pet Club plans, where you get money off medication, procedures and unlimited vet consultations included.

5 things you can do at home to help your cat with arthritis

Medical treatment is only part of successful arthritis management; changes at home can have a huge positive impact on your cat’s comfort levels and may even reduce the amount of medication they need.

1. Manage their weight

Being overweight can make arthritis symptoms significantly worse, as carrying extra weight increases pressure on the joints. In obese pets, fat tissue can even release inflammatory chemicals that increase joint inflammation. If your cat is overweight, please speak to your vet or nurse – we will be happy to advise on their feeding and help you start a safe and successful diet.

2. Make changes to your home

If your cat has reduced mobility you can make several changes to help them in their daily life. These could include  a low-sided litter tray, steps to access higher areas, draft free comfortable beds, open cat flaps and regular grooming and nail trimming. We would also recommend ensuring beds, water stations, litter trays are  accessible and easy to use.

3. Encourage movement

Small amounts of regular movement are good to keep joints mobile and maintain muscle tone. If your cat is willing, short periods of gentle play, can help reduce stiffness.

4. Explore complementary therapies

These include physiotherapy, acupuncture, osteopathy, and laser therapy, amongst others. They can be a great accompaniment to other therapies, however there is poor regulation of many of these practices, so always speak to your vet about whether they recommend a specific practitioner. Complementary therapy should never be administered without signed permission from your vet, as they are not all suitable for every pet.

5. Give them supplements

Supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin can support cartilage development and healing. These can be tablets, capsules or are already included in a joint diet. There  is very little evidence that says they definitely help, but they are not harmful and many people feel they can see a difference. Supplements should be used alongside veterinary treatment not instead of this.