Signs of Arthritis in Cats

Cats, like humans, cope with various health problems as they age. One of these problems is feline progressive polyarthritis. This feline arthritis affects many of the cat's joints and worsens as time progresses. This can be caused by many factors, but mostly can be summed up as the wearing away of joint cartilage. When the cartilage cushioning the joints between bones wears away, the bones can begin rubbing together. This causes inflammation and pain to the cat. According to Pet Education, arthritis is most likely to affect middle-aged male cats. In order for the cat to receive the care it needs, owners must remain alert for the signs of arthritis in cats. There are a number of prominent symptoms that you can watch for.

  1. Stiffness

    • The most noticeable symptom is stiffness in the cat. If the animal walks or jumps stiffly, without bending joints, then this may be due to arthritis or another joint disease. This may be slight or more pronounced. Regardless of the severity, if this sign is observed you should take your cat in for a veterinary check to find out what is going on.

    Limping

    • A cat with arthritis will usually walk with a limp. If the arthritis has not progressed to an advanced stage then this limp may only manifest as a slight favoring of one side. This symptom may be subtle, especially in early stages. As time goes on, this will become more pronounced; however, if this is spotted, you need to get your cat medical care to ensure the comfort of the animal.

    Jumping and Stair Climbing

    • The cat with arthritis may shy away from activities requiring jumping or climbing stairs. Noticeable signs of pain may or may not accompanied this. As cats are well known for their acrobatic jumping, this will likely be the most noticeable sign and thus should not be ignored. There is currently no cure for arthritis (feline or human), but pain can be managed to a degree with medication. This arthritis, however, is progressive and will get much worse with time. There may come a time when medication will no longer sufficiently ease the pain. It is then that owners face the difficult situation of whether or not to euthanize the cat.