Cat osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is long-term inflammation of the joint or joints. Cats of any age can get OA, but it is more common as they get older. Typically, cats get OA in their limbs and spine – although they can get it elsewhere, especially if they have a history of previous trauma to a joint, such as having sustained a previous injury.

Signs your cat may have osteoarthritis

As highlighted before, it is often extremely difficult to pick up on the subtle signs of chronic pain. “Chronic pain” is pain that outlasts the natural healing phase, beyond 3 months, and serves no protective biological purpose. Because it happens more gradually, we may put signs down to ‘old age’ - even though this often isn't the case.

Signs of OA in our cats are:

• Stiffness
• Reluctance to jump off or onto surfaces
• Sleeping more or having difficulty sleeping
• Getting grumpier with grooming or stroking
• Reluctance to play
• Changes in litter tray use (they may find small boxes uncomfortable to position in, or high sides hard to step over)
• Changes in eating behaviour
• Struggling to groom certain areas – often resulting in fur matting
• Hiding more or other social behavioural changes

As you can see these signs are all quite vague. So, what's important is to keep tuned into your cats – especially as they age. If you spot any subtle changes, it may be time to pop down for an OA/Pain Vet check-up with your knowledgeable and friendly veterinary team.

How to prepare for a consult

It can be quite overwhelming taking your cat to the vets. Cats often don’t enjoy the car journey – and if they are also sore due to experiencing OA, they may be even more reluctant to be handled. We want to keep your cat’s and your anxiety to a minimum - we don’t want you to forget vital questions.

Here are some top tips before you leave for your appointment:

• Note down the behaviours you have noticed and even take videos for your veterinary team. You can also complete our symptom checker. You can send them these prior to the appointment – the likelihood is your cat will be acting differently at the vets from what it does at home.
• Write down any questions you have about OA, or any concerns you have.
• Keep the consult on track – if you have multiple health concerns about your cat either book a longer appointment or book more than one appointment so your vet team has sufficient time to examine and support all your needs.
• Get a large, safe cat carrier that you can fasten safely into your car. It may not be achievable but if you do have time, getting it out a few days or weeks before the appointment allows your cat to get acclimatised to it. If you can make it appealing by adding a cozy warm bed and encouraging them to use it with treats, then this may make the carrier less stressful when they do have to travel.
• Prepare for the journey – a towel over the carrier may help calm your cat and may also shield them from other animals in the waiting room that may cause them upset. Using a towel or blanket that smells of home may also help here.

What to expect from a consult

During the consult, your vet may take a detailed history of your cat, asking what behaviours you have noticed and what their lifestyle, diet and general health is. They will likely weigh your cat and body condition score them to check they are an ideal weight. They will do a nose to tail examination – checking all aspects of your cat’s body – if your cat allows! For an ‘orthopaedic’ exam, if it doesn’t cause your cat too much stress, they may gently manipulate or flex some of your cat’s limbs or joints to check for any crepitus (a grating feeling or sound produced by friction between bone and cartilage), joint instability or their range of motion. They may also require some diagnostic tests and will explain why these may be required and book you in – these may include an X-Ray.

Will they treat OA?

Once your vet is happy that they have reached a diagnosis of OA in your cat they will want to start treatment. This is because OA causes pain and discomfort and to give your cat the best quality of life, we want to get that under control. OA is a lifelong condition and cannot be cured – so treatment plans will be ongoing and may change depending on your individual cat.

Your treatment plan may include:

• Prescription of medication.
• A diet change – especially if they are overweight.
• Home changes – e.g. giving your cat a safe warm place to sleep that they can easily reach, providing a lower and wider litter tray they can easily access, and adding ramps for your cat to access their favorite places for example.
• Other suggestions may include addition of a supplement, like an omega three fatty acid – these are not to be used instead of medication but may help support your cat.
• Regular check ins or checkups to ensure everything is working well – they may also suggest blood tests to check how your cat is doing as it ages.