Does osteoarthritis affect your cat?

Mr Moggy (see link below)

Cats that are overweight or obese are more prone to serious health abnormalities as compared to their slimmer feline counterparts (see Fat felines- is your cat overweight or obese?).  The likelihood of larger cats having orthopedic and soft tissue injuries increases as the cat’s body size increases.  Such injuries can manifest with many clinical signs, including lameness, which is reluctance or inability to properly use a limb.  Overweight cats are almost 3 times more likely to have lameness, while obese cats are almost 5 times more likely!  

One of the causes of lameness in these corpulent kitties is osteoarthritis.  Osteoarthritis encompasses a variety of physiologic changes to joints and associated soft tissue, which can lead to clinical signs of pain.  Clinical signs of pain include:

Poor haircoat due to decreased grooming

Sensitivity to being touched

Decreased ability to jump up onto elevated surfaces

Inappropriate urination and/or defecation outside of the litter box

Change in patterns of sleep or activity

Hiding or avoiding interaction with other pets or people

The discomfort associated with osteoarthritis can be reduced through pain medication, dietary modification, weight loss, physical therapy, and acupuncture.

If your cat shows any of these above clinical signs, or if your cat is overweight or obese, please schedule a consultation with your veterinarian.

For further information see:

Veterinary Medicine Magazine

Photo credit:

Monster Moggy