Mary Allen
Many older cats suffer from osteoarthritis. Even if the chronic joint disease cannot be cured, there are methods to alleviate the animals’ pain. For this, however, their suffering must first be recognized.
Many things become a little more difficult with age: mobility decreases, the body is no longer as resilient, and vitality is perhaps also somewhat reduced. Normal signs of aging that all cats face (read how to recognize them here). However, if a chronic condition such as arthrosis occurs, the owners should act.
“Arthrosis is widespread,” says Anna Geissbühler from the small animal practice Im Moos in InsBE. “In older cats, half to two-thirds are affected.” This chronic disease of the joints develops insidiously over a long period of time. Inflammation and incorrect loading ensure that the articular cartilage becomes uneven and consequently wears out more and is less and less able to perform its function as a shock absorber. The joint surfaces also no longer slide smoothly over each other as arthrosis progresses, and bones and soft tissue change. According to Geissbühler, any joint can be affected. Osteoarthritis most commonly occurs in the lumbar spine, hips, knees, and ankles.
The Cat is a Secretive
It is not easy for cat owners to recognize osteoarthritis. On the one hand, this is due to the fact that the disease, as already mentioned, comes on gradually. On the other hand, the cat’s behavior changes a little anyway due to the normal signs of aging. And cats hide chronic pain as long as possible. “This serves to protect against enemies,” explains Geissbühler. “They don’t want to show weakness.” In order to be able to recognize signs of arthrosis, you have to observe your animal very closely and pay attention to subtle things.
You should therefore go to the vet if the cat jumps less high or lies less often on raised beds. According to Geissbühler, other warning signs are when the cat does not clean itself as well (increased scales on its back can be an indication of this) or keeps falling down when climbing. A limp or a stiff gait upon standing up and difficulty walking up or downstairs are also warning signs.
Osteoarthritis can be diagnosed at the vet with various examinations including x-rays. However, it is not possible to cure the disease – most changes in cartilage and bones are not reversible. However, there is a whole range of ways to relieve the pain and make the cat’s life as pain-free as possible. “Anti-inflammatory drugs are one possibility,” says Anna Geissbühler. Physiotherapy, massage, acupuncture, chiropractic, and osteopathy have also proved their worth. “Today, we usually use a combination of different methods for chronic pain,” says Geissbühler. “It is important to work with the owner to find out what is best for the animal and which methods it actually allows. For example, it is not easy to use chiropractic with every cat, because some simply do not want to participate and fight back. »
Younger Animals are Also Affected
Alleviation of the symptoms and a better quality of life are therefore possible with arthrosis. Life can also be made easier for the cat by arranging its berths in such a way that it can get there easily. At most, a little tutoring with a ladder or a stool is necessary so that she no longer has to make big jumps. It is also advisable to pay attention to the weight of the cat as a preventive measure. Being overweight increases the risk of osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis is usually considered a disease of old age. However, there are also younger cats who suffer from it. This is usually a result of an injury. “I recently had a five-year-old cat in my practice who was showing signs of osteoarthritis. The cause was a misalignment after an accident, which ultimately triggered the arthrosis,” says Geissbühler. In the treatment, however, there is no difference to the older patients. “In any case, it is important to recognize arthrosis as early as possible in order to take the right measures.”