METACAM for cats

Effective anti-inflammatory and pain relief for cats

cat mobility

What is feline arthritis

Why does my cat have arthritis?

Feline arthritis, also known as osteoarthritis, is an inflammatory joint condition that causes your cat pain and reduces their mobility. Arthritis affects the whole joint and causes joint swelling, cartilage breakdown and excess bony growth. Arthritis comes in waves—it flares up, then subsides, and then flares up again. Your cat may need more pain relief and less play time during flare-ups.

Why does my cat have arthritis?

Arthritis is extremely common in cats. It can affect cats of all ages but middle-aged and older cats are at greater risk. The older the cat, the greater the risk with studies showing that 61% of cats over 6 years of age and 90% of cats over 12 years of age suffer from arthritis.


For most cats, the underlying cause is unknown. The following factors have been shown to increase the risk of arthritis in cats:

  • Cat breed - arthritis is common in domestic shorthair cats. Some purebred cats have a greater risk of developing abnormally-shaped joints including hip dysplasia in the Maine Coon, Persian and Siamese and dislocating kneecaps in the Abyssinian and Devon Rex. These conditions result in uneven weight distribution through the joint.
  • Cat size - large breed cats (e.g., Maine Coon) and cats that are overweight may be at a higher risk as a result of the extra load they put on their joints.
  • Joint injury - this is an important risk factor in cats. Injuries can cause abnormal stresses through the joint even after the injury appears to be healed.
  • Lifestyle - cats with access to the outdoors are at greater risk, possibly due to an increased risk of accidental injuries and/or repetitive stress on the joints.

Although there are a number of factors that may have caused your cat to develop arthritis, what matters now is controlling pain and inflammation, maintaining mobility and slowing the progression of the disease. As your cat’s best friend, your active involvement is vitally important to their well-being—the good news is that you can make a significant and noticeable difference to their quality of life.

arthritis cat

There are normally 3 steps in the diagnosis of arthritis:

1 - You observe changes in your cat’s behaviour and mobility

The signs of arthritis in cats can be subtle. You may have noticed that your cat is behaving differently, or that they seem stiff when moving. On the next page are 7 signs that your cat may have arthritis. 

2 - Your veterinarian examines your cat

Your veterinarian may suspect arthritis based on your observations. They will also consider your cat’s age and breed, and perform a clinical examination to assess your cat’s posture, gait, muscle mass and joint flexibility, to arrive at their diagnosis.

3 - Tests are conducted to confirm the diagnosis

In order to rule out any other conditions that can cause joint pain, your veterinarian may take some X-rays of your cat’s joints. These X-rays will also allow them to assess the severity of the disease.

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1

Change of Temperament

cat 02

2

Sleeping more and stiff after waking

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3

Reduced jumping ability

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4

Difficulty with stairs

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5

Grooming less

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6

Inappropriate toileting

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7

Loss of appetite

cat and women