Arthritis, also called degenerative joint disease (DJD), is more common in humans and dogs, but it can also occur in cats. Because cats are masters at hiding pain, arthritis in cats can easily go unnoticed.

　▍Definition Arthritis occurs when the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones breaks down.

There are many reasons for cartilage breakdown, such as injury, infection, chronic wear, etc.

Hip dysplasia is also a cause of congenital arthritis and is very common in dogs, but also in cats.

Obesity can also make cats more susceptible to arthritis. In addition, degeneration of toe joints is also very common in cats.

　▍Symptoms

Cats suffering from arthritis will have subtle physical and behavioral changes. Cats have a very strong tolerance for this chronic disease, so they generally won’t bark. Some cats will become stiff when walking, start to limp, or prefer to use a certain leg. It may not be as active as before, no longer like to play, no longer like to crawl on the cat frame, or even no longer fall in love with the bed and sofa.

　▍Diagnosis

The simplest way to diagnose is to take X-rays. This method can not only diagnose arthritis, but also further rule out the possibility of fractures, tumors and other diseases. Some doctors may also take a sample of synovial fluid to rule out other possible causes.

▍Treatment For overweight cats, weight loss is an essential step. Because after losing weight, the stress on the joints will be reduced. A reliable doctor will give you a reasonable weight loss plan. At the same time, make life as easy as possible for the affected cat. For example, it is best to place food, water, and litter box as close as possible to its daily activity area. In addition, it is best to replace the cat litter box with one with a lower threshold. The bed should be replaced with something softer and more comfortable. For some relatively high places, steps or slopes can be designed.

　▍Drugs

Pain control is an important part of treating arthritis. However, most analgesics taken by humans, such as the most common paracetamol, are poisonous to cats, so cats must not be given human drugs at will. Likewise, many pain relief medications given to dogs are not safe for cats.

Therefore, you must purchase drugs specially designed for cats. Here is a summary of commonly used arthritis drugs:

Glucosamine-chondroitin: Strengthens the cartilage tissue on the joint surface to slow down the progression of the disease. In the early stages of arthritis, these medications may help control pain.

​Omega-3: A natural anti-inflammatory that can relieve minor pain.

Meloxicam: a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. It was first used in dogs and later in cats. The effect is good. But it has certain side effects on the liver.

Gabapentin, tramadol, and buprenorphine: Your veterinarian can prescribe these medications.

Generally speaking, drugs for treating arthritis have more or less side effects, so when administering them, you should start with the lowest dose and try to find the effective dose. Once again, don’t blindly give your cat medicine without any research.

▍Alternative therapies such as massage and acupuncture in traditional Chinese medicine have a certain therapeutic effect on arthritis.

In addition, you can also do moderate and gentle massage on your cat’s joints at home.

▍The prognosis is that cat arthritis cannot be cured. It can only relieve the cat’s pain appropriately. If care is taken properly, the quality of life of cats suffering from arthritis may be good in their later years.