KSAH - Osteoarthritis in Cats
Karrinyup Small Animal Hospital
5/207 Balcatta Road
Balcatta WA 6021 AU
08 9447 4644
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Osteoarthritis in Cats

Osteoarthritis or arthritis is the irreversible and progressive deterioration of joints that causes pain and a reduction in joint motion. It can severely limit your pet’s quality of life.

Although arthritis is not curable, the good news is that there are several strategies we can use to help manage the condition, relieve pain and improve quality of life. Early treatment is key to prevent progression of the condition and ‘wind-up’ of pain. 

Wind-up is the sensitisation of nerve pathways to pain making things feel more painful or sensitive the longer the pain persists and makes chronic pain more resistant to treatment.

Signs of arthritis in cats:

  • Decreased activity
  • Trouble jumping on/off surfaces or climbing stairs
  • Eliminating outside the litter box
  • Walks stiffly and may even limp
  • Social reclusiveness or change in demeanour
  • Poor coat from decreased grooming

These changes can develop gradually over time making them easy to miss initially. Cats are especially good at hiding pain. It is important to actively monitor for these signs of chronic pain as the earlier management is started the better.

MANAGEMENT

Arthritis management is based on decreasing pain and clinical signs, slowing disease progression, and improving the quality of life. Management is multimodal and must be sustained. A regular follow up is important to ensure we are successfully managing your pets condition. 

Keys to successful arthritis management involves:

  • Weight control
  • Exercise modification
  • Environmental modification and enrichment
  • Joint supplements/nutraceuticals
  • Pain management
  • Joint stabilisation via surgical options

Weight Control

Keeping your pet at its ideal weight is important as any increase in weight will increase the pressure on the pet’s joints (both the physical weight and the fact that fat tissue is pro-inflammatory) and lead to further inflammation and pain.

Environmental Modification

Minor adjustments at home can do wonders for the quality of life of a cat with osteoarthritis:

  • Provide a warm environment as cold weather can worsen symptoms.
  • Use a soft comfortable bed and place beds away from cold draughts in a quiet location.
  • Provide ramps or a series of steps to access favoured higher sites and avoid jumping or falls. Cats need access to height to feel safe.
  • Provide slip resistant surfaces.
  • Make sure food and water are easily accessible.
  • Lowering entry into litter boxes and making sure it is large enough.
  • Regularly groom with a soft brush as your pet may not be as flexible as before to reach those hard-to-reach areas and trimming overgrown claws.
  • Provide mental stimulation including play sessions.

Joint Supplements

Nutraceuticals are dietary supplements that can also help manage arthritis and work best earlier in the disease process.

  • Prescription diets with added omega fatty acids such as Hills j/d or Royal Canin Mobility

  • 4-cyte oral joint supplement containing Epitalis

Pentosan 

Pentosan is an injectable polysulfated glycosaminoglycans (PSGAG) and has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and joint protective actions. Pentosan consists of a course of 4 injections 5-7 days apart. This can be followed up by monthly injections or by repeating the 4 injection course every 3-12 months.

Solensia

Solensia is a monthly injection administered at your vet's office that can help control the pain your cat may experience from osteoarthritis. Solensia works like your cat’s naturally made antibodies to reduce pain signals.

Pain Medications

Pain medication is important too in managing arthritis. 

  • Solensia is a safe and very effective treatment for arthritis in cats. It is a monoclonal antibody therapy delivered as a monthly injection. It helps reduce arthritic pain and prevent the progression of the disease. 
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) are an effective anti-inflammatory and pain relief medication for arthritis. They must be used cautiously in cats and must be closely monitored for side effects, with regular blood tests if your pet is on them long term.
  • Gabapentin can be used for chronic neuropathic pain associated with arthritis. It can cause sedation.

Summary

Osteoarthritis is a common and often underdiagnosed condition in our pets. It causes chronic pain and can significantly affect your pets quality of life.  It is important to actively monitor for signs to ensure early management of disease. Although we can not cure arthritis, we have lots of tools we can use to help manage the disease, relieving pain, slowing progression and improving quality of life. It’s important to remember to continually monitor your pet so changes can be made in your pet's treatment when necessary.