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Does my cat have arthritis?
Cats are masters at hiding pain - did you know that 90% of cats over 12 years old have osteoarthritis on X-ray? Cats love to jump and climb and put their joints under strain every day. Unfortunately, this is exactly what makes them more susceptible to inflammatory and painful joint changes.
How do chronic wear and tear on the joints arise, how do you recognize them and what can you do to help your house cat? You will find the answers in this article.
The cat's joints
Who hasn't been captivated by the graceful agility, impressive jumping power and elegance of a cat's landing? It's spectacular to watch a cat spin around its own axis while falling and still land on all four paws.
Where does this mobility come from?
The individual vertebrae of the cat are less rigidly connected to one another than in humans or dogs, for example. Cats owe their musculoskeletal system's agility to the optimal interaction of muscles, nerves, bones, tendons, connective tissue and ligaments. The joints form the movable "hinges" between two bones. They absorb pressure (for example when jumping from great heights) and are often exposed to great forces.
Fun fact: The cat's skeleton has 40 more bones than that of a human - most of them in the skull, spine and tail. Evolution has perfectly designed the cat's skeleton for life as a hunter - but the joints still represent a weak point in the musculoskeletal system. Why they are so vulnerable can be explained by the structure and nature of their components. The basic components of the joints are always the same:
- Bone
- cartilage
- synovial fluid
- joint capsule
The joint consists of a joint head and a joint socket, which fit together like pieces of a puzzle. They are covered by a layer of articular cartilage. In between is the synovial fluid and the joint capsule covers the entire joint. It has a protective and supplying function. Depending on the joint, the ligaments allow mobility within the intended radius and, in conjunction with the muscles, ensure stability.
With its smooth surface, the articular cartilage helps to minimize friction and thus wear in the joints. It also absorbs forces that arise when jumping, for example - like a shock absorber.
The synovial fluid (synovia or joint lubricant) consists mainly of hyaluronic acid, glucose and water. It fills the joint space and, like cartilage, helps to cushion shocks. Other tasks include supplying nutrients to the cartilage, removing waste products and reducing friction in the cartilage.
The strain on the joints over the course of a cat's life leads to wear and tear on the cartilage structures, which can, however, regenerate themselves through species-appropriate nutrition and sufficient exercise. Factors such as age, excess weight, injuries or excessive strain mean that the cat's self-healing powers are no longer sufficient and this can lead to painful and inflamed joints in your cat. Find out now how to recognize joint pain and how you can help your cat.
How to recognize joint problems in your cat
The symptoms of joint problems in cats are varied and not all of them are easy to recognize as such because they are quite unspecific. Pay attention to the following signs and be sure to see a veterinarian to rule out other causes if in doubt:
- Your cat finds grooming difficult: When joints are sore, cats avoid movement - including the contortions necessary for grooming. The result: The fur looks more unkempt than usual.
- Loss of appetite and digestive problems – in combination with other warning signs, can indicate joint problems.
- Weight gain: Painful joints prevent your cat from moving and as a result, their body weight increases.
- House soiling:
If your cat has difficulty climbing into the litter box, he or she may defecate or urinate next to the box. - Inactivity: no or less playing, climbing or using the scratching post
- aggression or fear
- Increased sleep
- Loud wailing
- lameness
- coordination difficulties
- Dilated pupils, blinking, growling, hissing and whimpering can be an expression of physical pain
Chronic Joint Diseases in Cats
Joint diseases in cats are diagnosed less frequently than in dogs. If the articular cartilage is damaged or the joint is inflamed, the cartilage surface changes and the joint's function is impaired. The consequences: further cartilage damage, bone remodeling, pain and limited mobility.
In many cats with osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease), the cause remains unclear.
Arthritis is an acute or chronic joint inflammation that often leads to permanent damage to joint structures – osteoarthritis.
Causes of arthritis:
- bacterial infection (e.g. Lyme disease)
- immune disease (e.g. rheumatism)
- Particularly common cause: cartilage damage
Causes of Osteoarthritis in Cats
Osteoarthritis is usually caused by excessive strain on the joints. In dogs, the overloading of the articular cartilage can often be traced back to joint misalignment, specific cartilage diseases or even accidents (traumas) with cartilage injuries (secondary osteoarthritis), whereas in cats such causes are less common (primary osteoarthritis).
Causes of osteoarthritis in cats:
- Trauma (broken bones/joints; cruciate ligament tears or bone damage)
- Dysplasia (malformation of bones – such as hip dysplasia in pedigree cats such as Main Coons – can lead to incorrect loading and promote arthrosis)
- Patellar luxation (dislocation of the kneecap)
- arthritis (joint inflammation)
How to treat osteoarthritis in cats
Osteoarthritis cannot be cured - cartilage damage cannot be reversed. Therapy therefore focuses on slowing the progression of the disease, relieving pain in the best case scenario and restoring mobility to the affected joint.
Your veterinarian can rule out other causes of pain and develop an appropriate treatment plan. This may include the following measures:
- For acute pain: Drug and anti-inflammatory pain treatment (due to side effects, the intake must be carefully monitored, especially in older cats. The aim is to keep the dosage as low as possible)
- Warning: Never give your cat painkillers such as aspirin or paracetamol, which are intended for humans. These can be fatal for cats even in small doses.
- In addition, joint-supporting nutrients are used in the therapy - these can even replace the accompanying pain therapy in mild cases of osteoarthritis.
The most important joint-supporting nutrients available today for osteoarthritis therapy in cats:
- Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs): Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate (often in combination with manganese) – for example in Dr.Clauder's Mobil & Fit - Joint Serum
- Omega-3 fatty acids, e.g. EPA and DHA
- Antioxidants, e.g. vitamin E (vitamin C, selenium, methylsulfonylmethane = MSM)
- Green-lipped mussel extract (GLM) (in special food or nutritional supplements for cats).
In some cases, it is also possible to correct the cause of the joint disease surgically , for example by artificially fusion of the joint. The treating veterinarian will decide this on a case-by-case basis - conservative therapy should have been used beforehand.
Physiotherapeutic measures such as massages, cold and heat applications, stretching and exercise (e.g. obstacle courses) can also counteract pain and limited mobility. However, the acceptance of such therapeutic approaches is lower in cats than in dogs.
How to avoid joint problems in cats
Young cats can also suffer from joint problems - early prevention is therefore an absolute must for joint health. Pay particular attention to feeding food that is adapted to their growth.
Avoid the following risk factors , which can promote the development of osteoarthritis:
- Recurring, high stress (for example, daily jumps from great heights)
- Obesity – places a strain on the entire musculoskeletal system.
- Cold or even damp surfaces in your retreat are poison for your joints.
Both the right food and sufficient exercise are key factors in preventing joint problems.
Do you know how much exercise your cat needs?
There is no clear answer to this question, as it depends on many factors: age, health, living conditions and breed (British Shorthair, Persian and Ragdoll cats are considered to be somewhat calmer, while Bengal cats, Abyssinian cats and Savannah cats are particularly active).
If your cat is an outdoor cat, it is usually busy enough. If your cat is an indoor cat, it is important to keep your pet fit by offering climbing opportunities and playing together. The size of the apartment plays an important role: your four-legged friend should have at least 50 square meters divided into several rooms.
In comparison, the territory size of outdoor cats is often 100 square meters or more - the extended territory (hunting area) can be between 0.5 and 1.5 square kilometers. Indoor cats do not have that much space. This makes it all the more important to provide scratching, climbing and playing opportunities.
Provide incentives for movement:
- scratching posts
- Stable (free) shelves
- Cabinets (cats like high vantage points)
- window sills
- At least 1 hour per day: active playtime together with your cat (divided into several sessions)
Individual exercise preferences play an important role – perhaps your indoor cat would like to go for a walk on a leash? Be creative.
Why your cat should keep moving despite arthritis
Inactivity is poison for your cat's joints - especially if it suffers from arthritis, because exercise helps with weight loss, stimulates muscle building and the production of joint lubricant (synovia).
Tip: Distribute your cat's food in several small portions throughout the apartment to encourage it to move. If the pain therapy works, your cat will find joy in movement again. You can support it with small changes:
- Creating a deeper entry into the litter box
- Set up climbing aids to your favorite viewing spot
- Give your cat a brush massage if it can no longer reach all parts of its body – this also promotes the bond with your pet.
You should remember this
The cat's joints
Cats have different joints that differ in structure and direction of movement.
The cat's joints
Dr.Clauder's for mobility and joints
A balanced diet and the targeted addition of supplementary feed can improve your pet's mobility in the long term and reduce the dosage of painkillers in the case of chronic illnesses.
Emulsion to support the entire joint apparatus,
nutritional impairments. With NEM, which is derived from the
This new active ingredient contains
natural collagens, glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate...
Food emergency?The nutrition hotline helps
If you have any questions about animal nutrition, we will be happy to help you. Call us during our service hours or send us an email with your request:
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- Email: hotline@dr-clauder.com
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