As we all know, as we age, humans may suffer from joint pain caused by osteoarthritis, which is also common in dogs. Owners and veterinarians will also pay more attention and provide corresponding medicines for elderly dogs. to alleviate their suffering.

However, it is not until recently that degenerative arthritis in cats has gradually begun to be taken seriously by people. This is partly because cats do not show obvious symptoms of pain, and partly because owners and veterinarians ignore and understand feline arthritis. insufficient.

Prevalence of arthritis in cats

Due to the immature technology in the past, it was very difficult to diagnose cat arthritis, so it is difficult to say how many cats were affected by this disease before. However, in recent years, research on X-rays of elderly cats has produced surprising results. the result of.

In a study published in 2012, 90% of cats over the age of 12 had degenerative joint disease, including so-called spondylosis, a degenerative joint disease. And even if you exclude these cases, about one-third of cats still have X-rays that show they are suffering from joint pain. All this evidence suggests that arthritis is very common in cats, especially older cats.

Causes of arthritis in cats

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a complex joint inflammation. The main cause is the degeneration and wear of the normal cartilage that cushions the joints, eventually leading to inflammation, causing discomfort, persistent pain, and secondary lesions in the surrounding tissues. Osteoarthritis may be primary (there is no obvious cause, the inflammation may just be caused by mechanical "wear and tear") or secondary to joint damage or abnormality. The more common one is rheumatoid arthritis, which is a type of arthritis. Osteoarthritis caused by an autoimmune disease.

It is not yet completely clear what causes arthritis in cats. It needs to be further confirmed whether the cause is similar to osteoarthritis in humans, whether it is mainly caused by mechanical damage or disease to the joints, or whether it involves other causes.

Symptoms of cat arthritis

Because cats are very inconspicuous about discomfort and pain, they usually do not show very obvious external symptoms. In addition, after suffering from arthritis, cats will limit their activities to minimize joint pain. This is Makes it harder to detect arthritis in cats. But by observing some subtle changes in their daily lives, we can still find some "clues."

Discomfort:Reluctance, hesitation or refusal to jump; Jumping to a lower height than before; Slow and difficult movements up and down stairs; Stiffness in the legs, especially after waking up or resting in place for a period of time, and occasionally obvious lameness ;Using the litter box is very difficult.

Reduced activity: The time for sleeping or resting increases significantly; less frequent playing or walking in the room; the resting or sleeping position changes, and these positions are easier to reach than the original position; the interaction with the owner or the owner is reduced. Interaction and play with other animals.

Change grooming habits: Reduce the frequency of grooming; matted hair (due to lack of grooming); long and irregular nails caused by lack of activity and claw grinding.

Personality changes: Be more irritable when petted or interacted with by the owner; become obviously irritable when in contact with other animals; spend more time alone.

Feeding matters for sick cats

1. Environment optimization

The core of environmental optimization is to change the environment in a variety of ways to help sick cats maintain their quality of life after illness. Things to consider include: using a soft and comfortable cat nest, placing it in a quiet, easily accessible and warm location, An enclosed cat bed can help older cats feel warm and safe.

Place some stairs or passages in places where cats need to jump to make it easier for cats to reach those places; add at least one litter box in the room so that cats can reach the litter box more easily from anywhere in the room. And the height of at least one side of these litter boxes is relatively low, making it easier for cats to enter; helping cats comb their hair and trim their nails.

2. Diet optimization

Obesity or overweight can worsen arthritis, and weight control is very important in older cats. Therefore, try to avoid feeding high-calorie and high-protein foods to cats.

Several dietary supplements and diets are available for cats with arthritis that contain essential fatty acids (EFAs) and glycosaminoglycans (such as glucosamine and chondroitin) designed to reduce inflammation, which are the "building blocks of joint cartilage." Part", designed to improve cartilage quality. These diets and dietary supplements are generally very safe to use (but should only be used when recommended by your veterinarian), and they are relatively mild, making them ideal for cats with early arthritis and for arthritis prevention.

Drug treatment for cat arthritis

​Medications can be very effective in controlling the pain and inflammation associated with arthritis, but should only be used under the direct supervision of a veterinarian, as any medication can have side effects.

The most common class of drugs used to treat arthritis pain are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Many different NSAIDs are licensed for use in different breeds of cats, but the safety profile of these drugs varies, which is especially important to note when choosing a long-term treatment. To minimize the risk of side effects, medications should be chosen carefully and used with caution (using the lowest effective dose for the individual cat).

In some cats, alternative or supplemental analgesic (pain relief) medications may be necessary when NSAIDs are inappropriate or insufficient. Recommended medications (all of which must be used only under the supervision of your veterinarian) include: buprenorphine, amantadine, tramadol, and gabapentin.