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In today's video, we're going to talk about Arthritis in Cats.


Cat arthritis is a common condition that causes painful joints and makes moving uncomfortable. There is no cure for cat arthritis, but you can take steps to make your cat feel better. Spotting the signs of arthritis in cats is challenging for most pet parents. By nature, cats are evolutionarily designed to hide their pain, which can make it near impossible to detect signs your pet is ill.

As your feline friend gets older, it’s critical to keep his joint health in check. Discover how feline arthritis develops and the signs to watch for in your pet. If you notice your cat slowing down or showing signs of pain when they move, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian right away.


Causes of Feline Arthritis.

Arthritis happens when cartilage in a joint breaks down, leading to abnormal rubbing within the joint, inflammation, bony changes, and pain. Arthritis can be caused by many things, including trauma from broken bones or torn ligaments, developmental disorders, and increased wear and tear from obesity or advanced age.

Arthritis typically takes time to develop and slowly can change your cat’s behavior. Combine this with the fact that pet parents often don’t know what to watch for, and it’s unsurprising why the signs of arthritis in cats often fly under the radar.

It is estimated that 90 percent of cats over the age of 10 have osteoarthritis, and the numbers are higher for overweight cats, according to Robin Downing, DVM, DAAPM, DACVSMR, CVPP, CCRP, hospital director for The Downing Center LLC for Animal Pain Management in Windsor, Colorado.


Signs of Arthritis in Cats.

While limping might seem like an obvious sign of arthritis in cats, this is may not always be the case. By and large, a cat limping due to leg or joint pain typically results from trauma from auto accidents (hit by a car), stepped on or kicked, or cat bite abscesses.

Instead of limping, cats often display several subtle signs that are, by nature, designed to camouflage any weakness. Beyond confounding their pet parents, this actually is an evolutionary strategy designed to protect felines from predators. Ever wonder why a sick cat goes and hides under the bed?

To display any sort of pain or weakness to a predator marks the cat an easy target. Thus, cats hide their pain and suffering. While the signs of osteoarthritis in cats can vary, they often include:

Sleeping more and playing less
Jumping less often or not as high
Reluctance to go up or downstairs
Irritability
Excessively grooming painful areas
Litter box problems, such as urinating outside the litter box
Hiding more frequently
Increased aggression with other cats

If you notice any of these signs, then your cat may be hiding pain, and it is time to talk with your veterinarian. Your veterinarian will ask you some questions and do a physical exam. She may also recommend some laboratory testing to rule out other things that can cause behavior changes in cats as well as radiographs (Xrays) to diagnose osteoarthritis.


Causes of Cat Arthritis.

Some of the most common factors that increase the risk of arthritis in cats are:

Wear and tear. The joints may weaken as the cat gets older.
Abnormalities. Abnormal hip development may affect cartilage around joints.
Injury. When a cat experiences a joint fracture or joint injury, it may cause arthritis.
Obesity. While there is no scientific evidence that obesity causes arthritis, it may make the condition worse.
Genetics. Some cat breeds have an increased risk of arthritis due to abnormal development of the hips or cartilage. This is most common in Maine Coon, Persian, Scottish Fold and, Siamese cats.


Sources: https://be.chewy.com/arthritisincat..., https://pets.webmd.com/cats/catarthr...
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