Arthritis also known as osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease causes pain and inflammation in a cat s joints.
Arthritis in cats paws.
Recent studies have shown that up to 90 of cats aged over 12 years are showing signs of osteoarthritis hardie et al 2002.
Exercise and food management.
Paws and effect a cat advice blog answering letters from readers about cat health and behavior issues since 2003.
Once you have a positive arthritis diagnosis your veterinarian might send you home with medications to help control her pain.
If medication is needed we all know how difficult daily dosing of meds can be in a cat.
However cats are very adept at hiding any illness especially pain as this would be seen as a sign of weakness in the wild.
Some cats are more likely to develop arthritis due to their breed.
Old age arthritis or osteoarthritis is a rapidly growing area of feline medicine.
Arthritic cats may have difficulty accessing the litter box and may urinate or defecate outside of the litter box.
Arthritis in cats can be particularly hard to spot.
Normal wear and tear of joints over time can lead to arthritis later in life.
Exercising a cat can sound tricky but many cats love to play with toys on the end of a string chase a laser light or even play hide and seek with a reward of.
We give advice on how to deal with arthritis in cats for the best possible quality of life.
Weight management is a cornerstone of successful arthritis therapy for cats just as in people and dogs.
And cats have peculiar problems when it comes to using anti inflammatories the mainstay of treating arthritis.
Although fairly uncommon in felines arthritis tends to affect the elbow joint when it does strike but many joints can be afflicted.
Many arthritic cats simply become less active.
If one paw in particular seems to be bothering her let your vet know.
Cat arthritis symptoms early symptoms of arthritis in cats are often found in the animal s range of motion.
The pain resulting from arthritis may cause a decreased appetite for some cats.
Arthritis treatment for cats.
Causes of arthritis in cats.
Cats with arthritis may be painful when handled.
Arthritis in cats can develop for a number of reasons.
Consult your veterinarian for advice if you believe your cat is suffering from arthritis.
Similarly weight management requires two things.
This kind of arthritis is usually because of an inherited weakness in the cartilage.
Both obesity and arthritis in cats are on the rise with arthritis cases increasing 67 percent from 2006 to 2011 according to banfield s 2011 state of pet health report.
He could also suggest giving her supplements.
Treating arthritis in cats can be more challenging than treating dogs for a couple of reasons.
