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Cat joint health

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Arthritis: A painful, lifelong joint condition

Arthritis is very common in cats (although they can be experts at hiding it). About 20% of cats age 2 and up and 90% of cats over age 12 suffer from the condition. Clearly there are a lot of stiff kitties out there!

But what is arthritis exactly? Also called osteoarthritis, it’s a chronic, degenerative condition that affects the joints. While it’s not curable, it is manageable.

If you suspect that your cat may have arthritis, talk to your veterinarian right away. It’s better to act early without waiting for obvious signs of joint pain in your cat.

What causes arthritis in cats? A number of factors, the most common being:

  • Age
  • Joint trauma (e.g., a torn ligament or dislocation)
  • Being overweight

It’s a vicious cycle set in motion when your cat’s cartilage is damaged, causing an enzymatic reaction and inflammation that in turn cause further damage to the connective tissue. Cartilage can only repair itself on a microscopic level, so regeneration is all but impossible once the damage is done.

But arthritis doesn’t just affect cartilage. Other changes can occur over time, causing more pain, including:

  • Degradation of synovial fluid (the fluid that lubricates freely moving joints)
  • Bone remodeling
  • Joint capsule inflammation and fibrosis

How can you tell if your cat has osteoarthritis? Cats being cats, the signs are often subtle. That’s because cats are highly agile and able to compensate for the discomfort and loss of mobility associated with the condition.

Arthritis symptoms can also be easily confused with the signs of aging in an older cat. But there are a few warning signs, e.g., when your cat:

  • Isn’t as active
  • Self-isolates
  • Stops jumping up on things
  • Goes outside the litter box
  • Is crankier than normal
  • Doesn’t want to be pet as much
  • Doesn’t keep up their grooming habits

Since arthritis can be caused by multiple factors, treating it requires a multipronged approach (treatment using multiple methods to tackle the various causes), including:

  • A weight maintenance diet that delivers the necessary nutrients to promote joint health
  • Medication to reduce inflammation and pain
  • Physical therapy to help your cat regain mobility

This will help slow the progression of the disease and mitigate kitty’s symptoms by protecting their joint health and relieving pain. Vet-recommended foods are specially formulated to help maintain your cat’s joint health. Your veterinarian can provide more information.

Feeding your cat a special arthritis diet: How and why

Joint health
Healthy weight
Quality of life

Support your cat’s joint health

Therapeutic foods formulated for osteoarthritis contain different nutrients to help keep your cat’s joints healthy.

The omega-3s EPA and DHA, for instance, have a therapeutic effect and can help reduce joint inflammation. Special joint health foods obviously contain enough of these fatty acids for your cat to feel the benefits.

Since inflammation causes pain and can exacerbate arthritis, a diet rich in omega-3s can give your cat some relief and protect their joint health over the long term.

In addition to EPAs and DHAs, therapeutic food designed for arthritis contains other nutrients to also protect your cat’s cartilage and joints:

  • Antioxidants to reduce the effects of free radicals that cause damage and inflammation
  • Manganese
  • Glucosamine and chondroitin, the building blocks of healthy cartilage

Help your ailing cat maintain a healthy weight

Is your cat overweight? Be aware that excess weight is a major factor in the onset and exacerbation of feline arthritis, in addition to making your cat more uncomfortable, sedentary, and prone to other conditions.

The caloric density of foods recommended for joint health is adjusted to encourage weight loss and help arthritic cats maintain a healthy weight. So these foods provide all the essential nutrients and protective ingredients your cat needs, without the extra calories.

Follow your veterinarian’s diet recommendations, and you can protect kitty’s joints and whittle the weight away at the same time.

For advice on keeping your feline friend at an ideal weight, visit our page on Maintaining your cat’s weight. 

Improve your cat’s mobility and quality of life

Specialized foods for joint health help slow joint degeneration and ease some of your cat’s pain because they contain:

  • The omega-3s EPA and DHA to reduce inflammation
  • Antioxidants like glucosamine and chondroitin to protect cartilage

You may have noticed your arthritic cat acting differently. This is largely due to pain and changes in the joints. With food that helps relieve these symptoms, your cat will feel better, slowly regain their mobility, and have a better quality of life.

Clinical studies have shown vet-recommended joint care foods to be effective at reducing the signs of discomfort and improving kitty’s quality of life, so you can both rest easy.

Find special osteoarthritis food for your cat in our stores

Globalvet clinic stores carry a number of different kinds of therapeutic foods for arthritis. Find the formula your vet recommends for your four-legged friend. Shop online or in store.

Need advice on pet food?

Contact your local clinic or visit our online store.
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