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Could your cat be suffering from feline osteoarthritis? Cats are renowned for their nimble movement and soft landings on their feet. However, osteoarthritis in cats is often under diagnosed, which affects their ability and desire to move, perhaps on the couch or inside their cat tree. In fact, 61% of cats over the age of 6 have osteoarthritis to some degree. That number jumps to 82% of cats over age 14.
Signs of Osteoarthritis in Cats
Osteoarthritis is a joint disease resulting in the degeneration of the joint cartilage and underlying bone causing pain, swelling and stiffness. The condition is common in cats as they age, but it is often worsened by abnormal limb development, injury, or excessive body weight.
Cats’ bodies are small, and the symptoms of feline osteoarthritis can be relatively discrete. Unless the disease has progressed substantially, you’re not likely to see a large sway or limp when they move. This is because cats are rather stoic and can hide the symptoms of joint pain really well. Scurrying across the living room, your cat’s stride may still look supple, but look closer.
Has your cat begun to show signs of behavioral avoidance to heights? Many cats escalate to the top of window sills, countertops, and even the refrigerator.
What Can You Do About Feline Osteoarthritis?
In avoiding high or low spots, your cat may be revealing the signs of joint discomfort or chronic pain associated with feline osteoarthritis. Descending from these high spots makes for a harsh landing, especially as weight-bearing joints become less resistant to absorbing and dissipating shock.
When these signs of osteoarthritis begin to show, you can add carpeted or padded surfaces below access points to their favorite furniture. You might also consider medication to treat the symptoms of pain. It is also crucially important to have a complete diet to address the cause and provide some regenerative support for osteoarthritis in cats. In these instances, a high-quality feed can go a long way to the overall well-being of your feline companion. Moreover, this is a very important time to consider a feline supplement for joint health and mobility.
Supplementing for the purpose of improving the mobility and joint health in cats can be tricky since they can be finicky eaters. That’s why it’s important to select a feline joint health supplement with a limited ingredients list that avoids fillers, additives and preservatives.
Tri-Acta provides just that: all-active ingredients ensuring the serving size is extremely small and easy to give to cats.
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