Arthritis in Cats UK — Signs, Pain Relief & Weight Management

Unlike dogs, cats rarely limp obviously. According to the PDSA and Cats Protection, they adapt by:

• Sleeping more instead of playing
• Using lower routes rather than jumping to windowsills or beds
• Grooming painful joints excessively — or stopping grooming and developing a matted coat
• Becoming irritable when picked up or handled near sore joints
• Toileting outside the litter tray if high-sided boxes are painful to enter

Many owners attribute these changes to "getting old" rather than treatable pain. A vet examination can identify arthritis even when lameness is subtle.

Watch for gradual changes such as:

• Reluctance to jump — prefers staying on the floor or using intermediate steps
• Stiffness after sleeping — slow to rise, especially on cold UK mornings
• Reduced activity — less interest in play or hunting toys
• Muscle loss over hindquarters or shoulders
• Overgrooming one area — sometimes causing bald patches
• Poor coat condition — unable to reach the back or hind legs comfortably
• Personality change — hiding, avoiding touch, or aggression when handled
• Litter tray problems — see Cat litter box problems

Overweight cats are at higher risk and show signs earlier — see Cat obesity UK. The pattern is similar to Arthritis in dogs UK, though cats mask discomfort more effectively.

Your vet will:

• Observe how your cat moves, jumps and rises
• Palpate joints for pain, swelling and reduced range of motion
• Take X-rays to confirm joint degeneration
• Run blood tests before starting long-term NSAIDs

Other causes of reduced mobility — spinal disease, soft tissue injury, hyperthyroidism — must be ruled out. Senior cats benefit from six-month check-ups as part of Senior pet care UK.

Never give ibuprofen, paracetamol, aspirin or any human painkiller without explicit veterinary instruction. Paracetamol is particularly dangerous to cats — even a single tablet can be lethal. See Can I give my cat paracetamol and Ibuprofen poisoning in pets UK.

According to Blue Cross guidance, excess weight worsens arthritis pain because every extra gram increases load on already damaged joints. Safe weight loss requires:

• Veterinary body condition scoring — target gradual loss over months
• Weighed portions — not free-feeding
• High-protein, controlled-calorie diets prescribed by your vet
• Encouraging gentle movement — play on the floor rather than high jumps

Never crash-diet a cat. Rapid weight loss risks hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver), which is life-threatening.

• Provide orthopaedic or thick bedding in warm, draft-free spots
• Add steps or ramps to favourite sleeping places and sofas
• Use low-sided litter trays — shallow entry reduces joint strain
• Keep food and water bowls at floor level or on a low stand
• Maintain short, gentle play sessions to preserve muscle mass
• Trim nails regularly — overgrown claws alter gait and worsen joint stress
• Consider non-slip mats on smooth floors