Alternative Arthritis Treatments for Cats

Just like humans, cats can experience arthritis. About 90% of cats over the age of 10 years experience osteoarthritis (OA) in at least one joint.1 It is a complex condition involving inflammation and degeneration of one or more joints and is sometimes referred to as degenerative joint disease (DJD). Cats with OA experience pain and inflammation in various joints that interfere with daily activities.

- Nancy Kerr & Lucy Drury

Causes of Arthritis

Unfortunately, there is no single cause; many factors can contribute to its development. Among these are: a cat’s skeletal structure, obesity, abnormal joint development, past injuries and orthopedic surgery. Nutritional history can also play a role. While most cats with OA experience a combination of these factors as their OA develops and progresses, just “getting old” is NOT a cause of OA.

Signs of Arthritis

Cats with arthritis will not exhibit the same signs, nor will they exhibit all the signs at the same time. Cats with arthritis don’t usually limp the way people with arthritis do, nor do they vocalize their pain as dog might.

The most commons signs of arthritis are:

• Difficulty getting up and down

• Walking stiffly. Lameness in one or more legs

• Reluctance to go up or down steps, jump up or down, and/or play

• Stiff, swollen, or sore joints

• Reluctance to be touched on some parts of the body

• Unexpected aggression toward other cats or humans

• Hiding more than usual

• Inappropriate elimination (from pain, or if a cat has difficulty getting in and out of the litter box)

• Poor coat condition (because self-grooming becomes difficult)

Even if cats know they are loved, they will still instinctively conceal pain. In the wild, small animals like cats are prey for larger carnivores; concealing pain is a survival instinct. Even as pets, they still instinctively avoid advertising their vulnerabilities.

Medical Treatments