Especially at advanced ages, cats can suffer from what is known as osteoarthritis, a degenerative and painful disease that affects the joints and that is not always easy to detect in these animals, since they are able to hide the symptoms or these go unnoticed. Osteoarthritis is a disease that cannot be cured, is irreversible and worsens over time, but we can fight to ensure that our cat maintains a good quality of life for as many years as possible.
In this article on our site we explain what is osteoarthritis in cats, what are its symptoms, what is the most appropriate treatment and whether or not there are home remedies that we can apply to make life easier for our feline and relieve pain.
What is osteoarthritis in cats?
As we go on, osteoarthritis is a degenerative and irreversible disease that affects one or more joints. It is caused by wear of the cartilage whose function is to cushion the joint, so that the bone is exposed to friction, causing mobility problems, discomfort and chronic pain.
Being a degenerative disease, it is more commonly diagnosed in older cats, but there is also osteoarthritis in young cats. It is important to know that osteoarthritis is not the same as arthritis in cats, which is an inflammation of the joints.
Types of arthrosis in cats
Feline osteoarthritis can be primary or secondary. We explain it in more detail:
- Primary osteoarthritis: it is the most common in older cats. Its cause is unclear, but the joint has not suffered any prior trauma. It can be due to both immune and infectious joint disease.
- Secondary osteoarthritis: unlike primary osteoarthritis, it is due to trauma, chronic joint overload or deformation.
Causes of osteoarthritis in cats
There are several factors and causes that can trigger or aggravate osteoarthritis in cats. We highlight the following:
- Traumatisms caused by falls, run over, fights, etc. that cause fractures, dislocations or any other damage that modifies the load that the joint supports.
- Age, as joints wear out over the years.
- Genetics, that is, some feline breeds have a greater predisposition to suffer from this disease. Examples are the Scottish Fold, the Abyssinian or the Maine Coon.
- Acromegaly, which is a rare hormonal condition that can lead to osteoarthritis.
- Obesity, as it increases the load that the joints have to bear, aggravating osteoarthritis. The cold is also a factor that worsens discomfort.
Osteoarthritis symptoms in cats
A major problem with osteoarthritis is that cats can hide discomfort for a long time, which delays that we caregivers realize that something is wrong with our cat and, therefore, the diagnosis and treatment. In addition, being a disorder that progresses little by little, it gives the cat time to get used to the changes. That is why it is advisable to go for regular veterinary check-ups, especially in the case of older cats, and pay attention to any change in normal activity. Osteoarthritis is underdiagnosed in cats.
The main clinical sign of osteoarthritis is chronic pain in the affected joint, especially the elbows and hips. But it is difficult to detect because the cat with osteoarthritis will not cry, but will try to avoid discomfort by adopting small changes in his day-to-day life, such as not getting on to high places or, at least, not to do it from a direct jump, spend more time sleeping or resting or neglecting their grooming in the parts of the body that cannot be reached without hurting themselves, focusing attention on the areas that hurt. You will also have problems getting down from high places.
On the other hand, some changes that we can notice are attributed to the age of the cat, are assumed to be normal and, consequently, are left untreated. We highlight the following signs of osteoarthritis in cats:
- Rejection of physical contact and interactions, even aggressively.
- Loss of appetite.
- Joint stiffness, causing the cat to walk differently, or lameness.
- Decrease in the number of previously usual activities, such as playing or exploring. May be noticeable on longer nails.
- Body mass loss.
- Urine and faeces elimination outside the litter box due to not being able to access it or to feel pain when evacuating.
Diagnosis of osteoarthritis in cats
Signs such as those we have mentioned may be compatible with osteoarthritis, but also with other diseases. Therefore, if we detect any of these changes, it is recommended to go to the vet This professional will examine our cat and take a history. On examination, it is common for the cat to show resistance to palpation of the painful joints.
It is advisable to take a recording of the cat moving at homeso that the veterinarian can assess its mobility, since many stay completely still in the consultation due to fear and pain. Usually in this evaluation it will be possible to speak clearly of osteoarthritis, but X-rays can be done to confirm the diagnosis. In them you will see the damage produced in the joint.
In any case, as osteoarthritis is common in older cats, it is also recommended to carry out tests to rule out the presence of other diseases and to have information on the general condition of the animal, which is also important for time to prescribe medication.
Treatment of osteoarthritis in cats
Because osteoarthritis is a disease that has no cure, the goal of treatment is to relieve the pain the cat is experiencing and Try to delay the progression of degeneration as much as possible. Treatment is multimodal, which means that it combines different drugs and measures. Thus, analgesics or anti-inflammatories such as meloxicam can be used, of course, always under the close supervision of the veterinarian and looking for the minimum necessary dose. You should know that these drugs have side effects and contraindications.
It is very important to adapt the home to the new needs of the cat with osteoarthritis. For example, we'll make sure he gets in and out of the litter box smoothly by using a low tray, or we'll arrange furniture so he can still access his favorite high places. In addition, you have to control the feeding to keep the cat at its ideal weight or to help it lose the extra kilos. In this way we avoid overloading already damaged joints.
On the other hand, you can take supplements, such as glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, which protect cartilage or essential fatty acids to reduce inflammation, among others. Acupuncture, physiotherapy and rehabilitation, always applied by veterinarians, are other therapies that can be combined with other treatments to help relieve pain and improve mobility.
Home remedies for osteoarthritis in cats
There are no home remedies to cure osteoarthritis in cats, just as there are no veterinarians, because osteoarthritis has no cure Yes, as we have advanced, we can focus on maintaining the cat's quality of life by making small changes in the home that will make a big difference to him. For example:
- Offer soft and comfortable beds, arranged in warm places without drafts.
- Make sure he can easily access all his resources, be it beds, feeders or the litter tray. If necessary, put steps or any other object that will help the cat to get up and down.
- If you use a cat door or have one in the litter box, it's best to remove it so you don't have to push it.
- Change to a fine sand, softer for his paws.
- Take care of maintaining your hygiene with frequent brushing, local cleaning, trimming nails, etc.
How long does a cat live with osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis does not affect the life expectancy of cats, as it is not a fatal disease. This means that cats can live for years with osteoarthritis. But each time the joint damage will be greater, which will also increase the pain. That is why our attention must be focused, not on whether our cat lives more or less years, but on whether it does so with as little pain as possible.
