osteoarthritis and your cat

We’ve written about osteoarthritis (OA) in dogs before, but in this article, we want to talk about our feline friends. For a long time, osteoarthritis was underdiagnosed in cats, but many over the age of 10 are affected by this progressive and painful disease. 

Here’s how to know the signs, causes, and how to help your furry friend. 

Signs and causes of osteoarthritis  

How and why a cat develops OA can vary. Obesity is a common cause, but so are a cat’s structural frame and joint development. Past injuries and surgeries can also play a role in OA. If you’re concerned that your cat may have OA, here are a few things to look out for: 

• Trouble getting up or down, particularly on and off furniture or up and down stairs 
• Stiff joints and stiff walking, especially on stairs 
• Not wanting to be touched in certain areas 
• Limping or lameness  
• Not cleaning themselves as thoroughly (it can be difficult to get to those hard-to-reach areas) 

Booking an appointment with your Banfield veterinarian sooner than later is important. OA is a progressive disease and can cause pain and discomfort for your furry one. Thankfully there are several ways to offer support.  

Managing osteoarthritis  

OA is a chronic disease, meaning there is no cure. However, there are several ways to manage symptoms, including pain medication, nutrition, and physical therapy. These are small ways you can help your cat daily too, like getting stairs for your bed or couch, raised food bowls, shorter litter boxes, and soft bedding.