{"id":4065,"date":"2024-03-20T09:43:20","date_gmt":"2024-03-20T09:43:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/?p=4065"},"modified":"2025-11-01T12:24:01","modified_gmt":"2025-11-01T12:24:01","slug":"arthritis-in-cats-the-causes-signs-treatment-and-prognosis-of-osteoarthritis-in-cats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/pet-health\/arthritis-in-cats-the-causes-signs-treatment-and-prognosis-of-osteoarthritis-in-cats\/","title":{"rendered":"Arthritis in Cats: The Causes, Signs, Treatment and Prognosis of Osteoarthritis in Cats"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What Is Arthritis In Cats?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4070\" src=\"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/5-1.jpg\" alt=\"An informative illustration explaining arthritis in cats, including a detailed diagram of a joint and an outline of a cat highlighting common areas affected by arthritis. The illustration is titled \u201cWhat is Arthritis?\u201d and is created by veti\u2122. It describes arthritis in cats as a complex condition that causes painful joints and reduces mobility, also known as Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD). The left side of the image features a detailed diagram of a joint affected by arthritis, labeling the bone, tendons, and muscles, and noting that cartilage acts as a cushion between bones at the joints. On the right side, there\u2019s an outline of a cat with red circles indicating common areas affected by arthritis, such as the shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee. The background is white with light blue patterns resembling molecular structures. Text Extracted via OCR: \u201cWhat is Arthritis? Arthritis in cats is a complex condition that causes painful joints and reduces mobility. It\u2019s also called Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD). The cartilage is normally smooth and acts as a cushion between the bones at the joints. Common areas affected by arthritis. vetic\u2122\" width=\"1890\" height=\"1063\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Arthritis is the inflammation and degeneration of the joints. It is a complex condition and it\u2019s often known as degenerative joint disease (DJD). Arthritis in cats is a chronic condition. \u00a0More than 80% of all cats <a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/7595338_Osteoarthritis_in_cats_A_retrospective_radiological_study\">suffer from osteoarthritis<\/a> by the time they are around 10 years old.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Arthritis can affect multiple joints and interfere with a cat\u2019s mobility since it is caused by the gradual breakdown of the joint\u2019s cartilage. The constant movement of the joints further damages the joints and causes pain and swelling.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It can cause difficulty in your cat moving around, eating, sleeping and even, using the litter box.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What Are The Signs Of Arthritis In Cats?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4071\" src=\"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/6.jpg\" alt=\"An informative image detailing the signs of arthritis in cats, including a diagram of a cat with labeled leg joints and a list of symptoms. The image, titled \u201cSigns Of Arthritis In Cats\u201d and presented by \u201cvetic\u201d, features an illustration of a cat with its leg joints labeled, including the hip, hock (ankle), stifle (knee), elbow, carpus (wrist), and shoulder. On the right side, there are blue bubbles listing symptoms such as difficulty in walking, stiff gait, lameness in one or more legs, apparent lethargy, intermittent inappetence, unexpected aggression, sudden aversion to touch, litter box avoidance, dirty and matted coat, and swollen or stiff joints. A note at the bottom indicates that these signs may not all occur together and can be very subtle.\" width=\"1890\" height=\"1063\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Arthritis in cats can be difficult to recognise. Sometimes, even veterinarians may struggle to recognise the signs of arthritis since cats are often really good at hiding their discomfort and pain.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some signs of arthritis in cats are &#8211;<\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: left;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Difficulty in walking<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stiff gait<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lameness in one or more legs<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Apparent lethargy<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Intermittent inappetence<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unexpected aggression<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sudden aversion to touch<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Litter box avoidance<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dirty and matted coat<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Swollen or stiff joints<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The signs may not occur together in all cats. Some signs can be very subtle.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/pet-care\/why-is-my-cat-not-using-the-litter-box\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Litter box aversion<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can be caused by a cat\u2019s inability to climb the sides of the litter box. The sudden aversion to touch can be due to pain in certain body parts and the poor coat condition can result from the cat\u2019s inability to groom themselves.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What Causes Arthritis In Cats?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4067\" src=\"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/7-1.jpg\" alt=\"The infographic is titled \u201cCauses of Arthritis In Cats\u201d and features the logo \u201cvetic\u201d at the top right corner. It includes six blue oval shapes with white paw print icons and texts inside them indicating different causes of arthritis in cats: Body shape History of injuries Weight (Obesity) Nutritional history Abnormal joint development Orthopaedic surgery The background is white with faint outlines of cat paw prints, and at the bottom, there\u2019s a statement in black text on a light blue background that reads \u201cOld age is NOT a cause of arthritis in cats.\" width=\"1890\" height=\"1063\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although arthritis is commonly diagnosed in older cats, old age is NOT a cause of arthritis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Researchers have not yet found a particular cause of arthritis but they have identified multiple factors that contribute to the development of arthritis in cats.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The causes of arthritis in cats include &#8211;<\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: left;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Body shape<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/diet-and-nutrition\/how-to-help-your-cat-lose-weight-the-causes-effects-and-management-of-obesity-in-cats\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Weight (Obesity)<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">History of injuries\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nutritional history\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Orthopaedic surgery<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Abnormal joint development<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most cats who develop arthritis experience a combination of multiple factors mentioned above.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How Is Arthritis Diagnosed?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Arthritis in cats is diagnosed through physical examination in most cases. The palpation reveals swellings and pain in the joints affected by degenerative joint disease.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The veterinarian will check your cat\u2019s hips and elbows, shoulders, knees and backbone to make sure they have full mobility of these joints.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In more serious cases, the veterinarian may recommend X-ray of the joints to understand the extent of joint damage caused by arthritis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In cats, arthritis or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7152260\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">painful joints doesn\u2019t mean visible changes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the X-ray. Your cat can have arthritis and experience pain even if their X-ray reports come back normal.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What\u2019s The Treatment For Arthritis In Cats?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4068\" src=\"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/8-1.jpg\" alt=\"The infographic is titled \u201cTreatment For Arthritis In Cats\u201d and features the logo \u201cvetic\u201d in the top right corner. It includes an illustration of a person wearing gloves and a blue shirt, holding a white cat, set against a white background with faint outlines of cats in various postures. The infographic lists five treatment options for feline arthritis, each presented on a blue banner with accompanying icons: Nutraceuticals for Joint Health Pain Medicines for Joint Pain Prescription Food for Arthritis Physiotherapy for Arthritis Surgery for Cats with Arthritis\" width=\"1890\" height=\"1063\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for arthritis. Moreover, several OTC painkillers are highly toxic to cats (example &#8211; paracetamol, acetaminophen and diclofenac).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each cat will require a tailored nutrition and treatment plan that reduces their pain and improves their quality of life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Typically, veterinarians recommend a multimodal treatment and management for arthritis in cats. Treatment for arthritis in cats includes &#8211;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nutraceuticals for Arthritis in Cats<\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC9654660\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nutraceuticals are supplements<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that can reduce the effects of a condition or disease. For example, we have nutraceuticals in the market that contain omega-3 fatty acids, chondroitin, glucosamine and other essential nutrients that help reduce the effects of joint inflammation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pain Medicines for Arthritis in Cats<\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You need to be very cautious about giving pain medicines to your cat. Common NSAIDs such as meloxicam can work in reducing the pain, but using it for long periods (7 days) has been linked to kidney disease in cats.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Never give OTC painkillers to your cat. Follow your veterinarians instructions carefully to manage arthritis pain in your cat without side effects.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We have several types of pain medicines available for cats including corticosteroids, gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) analogue, and NSAIDs. However, you must NEVER combine these drugs without advice from your veterinarian.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prescription Food for Arthritis<\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tailored nutrition with high levels of EPA, DHA, glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate can <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/20337921\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">improve joint mobility<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in cats.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Commonly known as Joint Food, this category of prescription food can reduce inflammation and pain, and continue to reduce the signs of osteoarthritis in cats in the long-term.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your vet has recommended prescription food for your cat to address their joint issues you should continue it as long as it\u2019s recommended by the vet even if your cat shows signs of improved mobility.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Physiotherapy for Cats with Arthritis<\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Physiotherapy for cats is an emerging alternative therapy that can reduce joint pain and inflammation. You can find physiotherapy for arthritis in cats in a few locations including Vetic Sector 45 in Gurgaon.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trained and certified veterinary physiotherapists can use multiple physiotherapy modalities such as infrared (IR) therapy, TENS and Ultrasound Therapy for tissue healing, pain relief and Improving your cat\u2019s range of motion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Surgery for Cats with Arthritis<\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When osteoarthritis in cats is not treated properly and on time, a cat may need more invasive treatment that includes surgery.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The most common surgery for arthritis in cats is FHO (femoral head ostectomy). It is the recommended surgery for joint fusion of the wrist\/ankle and hip dysplasia.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What Can You Do To Keep Your Cat With Arthritis Comfortable?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a cat parent, you have every right to feel concerned about your cat\u2019s health.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While medicines, nutraceuticals and special diet do their work, here are a few things you can do to keep your cat comfortable &#8211;<\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: left;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Make their litter box more accessible<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Place steps and ramps for them to reach higher surfaces<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Raise their food and water bowls<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Give them soft surfaces to lie down\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stick to a routine for meds, food and physiotherapy<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can Arthritis In Cats Be Cured?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sadly, arthritis is not curable in cats or even humans. The damage to the joint cartilages can be slowed down or stopped.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, there is no way to revert the damage already done to the joints by arthritis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The good news is, with proper management and treatment for arthritis in cats, your cat can live a normal healthy life. Osteoarthritis does not affect the life expectancy of cats as long as they are receiving the right care and treatment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can You Prevent Arthritis In Cats?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4069\" src=\"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/9-1.jpg\" alt=\"The infographic, titled \u201cPrevention of Arthritis in Cats\u201d by vetic, showcases a drawing of a striped cat on the left side, reaching out as if playing or stretching. The background is white with a blue header that includes the title. On the right side, there are five tips for preventing arthritis in cats, each with its own icon: Provide proper nutrition (paw print icon) Give them an active lifestyle (running cat icon) Give tailored diet to prevent obesity (scale icon) Take them for vet check-ups (stethoscope icon) Test them for nutritional deficiencies (checklist icon) Below these tips, a note clarifies that while arthritis is not 100% preventable, these measures can help delay its onset and detect the disease early.\" width=\"1890\" height=\"1063\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a few things you can do to keep your cat healthy and possibly prevent arthritis (osteoarthritis) as well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: left;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Provide them with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/diet-and-nutrition\/veterinarian-recommended-cat-food-across-life-stages-newborn-kitten-adult-and-more\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">proper kitten food<\/span> <\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and supplements when they are growing up.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep them active throughout their life.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maintain a healthy body weight.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Try to get them tested for nutritional deficiencies every 6 months.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Visit a veterinarian for a complete physical exam every 6 months.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We cannot avoid sudden injuries and growth abnormalities in anyone including cats. So, you can only try your best to keep your cat safe and sound throughout their life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stay in touch with your veterinarian to ensure that your cat is healthy, within their optimal weight range and is on a proper diet that facilitates ideal joint health. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What Is Arthritis In Cats? Arthritis is the inflammation and degeneration of the joints. It is a complex condition and it\u2019s often known as degenerative joint disease (DJD). Arthritis in&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":4067,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[118,65,64],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4065","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cats","category-pet-care","category-pet-health"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4065","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4065"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4065\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6848,"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4065\/revisions\/6848"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4067"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4065"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4065"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vetic.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4065"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}