Osteoarthritis is a fairly common osteoarticular condition in cats. Particularly painful, this inflammatory disease is unfortunately underdiagnosed; many cats with osteoarthritis suffer in silence. What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis in cats? How to prevent it? How to relieve your little cat? We explain everything in this.
What is osteoarthritis in cats?
As cute as they are, our cats are particularly sensitive beings, subject to many diseases. Among the most common are diabetes and kidney failure. However, if there is one pathology that is often overlooked and diagnosed too late, it is osteoarthritis. Yes, just like us, our little companions can suffer from osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a common osteoarticular condition in dogs, as well as in cats. It is characterized by a destruction of bone cartilage, which extends to all the structures of the joint. This is located at the bony ends of the joints; it allows them to slide over each other. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage becomes thinner, cracks, and eventually disappears, causing major pain and lameness in the cat in its hips, knees, elbows, tarsi, shoulder, and vertebrae.
What causes osteoarthritis in cats?
There are two types of osteoarthritis: primary osteoarthritis and secondary osteoarthritis. Primary osteoarthritis is due to degeneration of the cartilage. It appears with age in cats over 10 years old. It is simply due to old age. Nearly 80% of cats over 10 years old suffer from osteoarthritis! As for secondary osteoarthritis, this does not only affect old whiskered men: it can occur at any age, following a disease such as dysplasia – a genetic bone malformation – or bone trauma that may have affected kitty’s small joints (a fall, a collision with a car, a fight with another animal that went wrong, a poorly healed fracture, etc.). But in most cases, it is overweight and obesity that are the culprits. Being overweight predisposes cats to the early development of osteoarthritis; he joints wear out more due to too much weight.
Osteoarthritis in cats and life expectancy: an impact?
Osteoarthritis does not affect the life expectancy of our mustachioed friends, but it can significantly impact their quality of life due to painful symptoms.
What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis in cats?
A cat suffering from osteoarthritis may show one or more signs. You can easily recognize them. Your cat has difficulty moving. Kitty is limping, can no longer climb the stairs, climb his cat tree, or climb your living room furniture. He struggles to jump on your bed to cuddle you and sleep with you. Your cat has less energy. He no longer plays much with you and with his favorite toys. Your cat is grooming itself less. It has difficulty grooming itself, and can no longer wriggle in all directions to lick all parts of its body. Your cat is less clean. Access to his litter box has become too complicated for him; he prefers to relieve himself next to it or elsewhere. Note, however, that a cat that pees or poops outside his litter box is not necessarily due to osteoarthritis; it could be a problem of cleanliness or location: his toilet is too dirty or placed in a place that does not suit him. Your cat can no longer stand being petted, touched, or carried. In too much pain, he refuses all your attention, and in some cases, he may be aggressive. If your cat shows one or more of these signs, consult your veterinarian quickly. The veterinarian will carry out various examinations to determine the origin of its discomfort. In particular, your veterinarian will take an X-ray of your four-legged friend, and if osteoarthritis is found, he will prescribe appropriate treatment.
My cat has osteoarthritis. What should I do?
Possible treatments
Just like kidney failure, osteoarthritis is an irreversible pathology that, even with a lot of love, cannot be cured. The only solution here is to relieve your mustachioed one’s pain as much as possible. Your veterinarian will certainly give you anti-inflammatory medications to take for a few days in the event of an acute osteoarthritis attack. This will reduce the pain. Warning: never give your own anti-inflammatories. Our medications are toxic to cats. There are also dietary supplements that can help reduce pain and inflammation, and may help preserve cartilage in cats with osteoarthritis. These include chondroprotectors (glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate) and food supplements based on very long-chain Omega-3, EPA, and DHA. EPA and DHA have been proven to be very beneficial in very young cats. They are also beneficial in breeding females, or at even higher doses in the case of certain diseases (osteoarthritis, chronic renal failure, autoimmune diseases, chronic inflammation),” explains Veterinarian Dr. Géraldine Blanchard. In addition to the treatment prescribed by your veterinarian, you can also help your furball by adapting its environment and, above all, by providing it with suitable food.
Ziggy Care Omega Boost to reduce joint pain
At Ziggy, we care for all cats. For cats suffering from osteoarthritis, we have developed Omega Boost, a fish oil for cats, to be added to kibble and/or pâté. It is concentrated in very high-quality Omega-3 EPA & DHA, derived from small cold-water fish (sardines, mackerel, anchovies) and algae. Omega-3 EPA & DHA help secrete anti-inflammatory molecules in cats. A diet enriched with EPA & DHA via Omega Boost helps reduce joint pain or pain related to osteoarthritis and arthritis.
