Cat Joint Health & Arthritis in Seniors
Listen to this article
AudioPrefer to hear it? Press play and keep browsing.
Arthritis is very common in older cats but rarely recognised. In one study, 90% of cats over 12 showed arthritis on X-ray, yet only 4% had arthritis mentioned by an owner or a vet. Cats hide pain, so the signs are behavioural: less jumping, more resting, less grooming. A vet diagnoses arthritis, and management usually combines home changes, weight control and veterinary pain relief.
90% of cats over 12 had radiographic evidence of arthritis, but only 4% had arthritis mentioned by an owner or veterinarian. In a 100-cat study, 82% of cats over 14 had radiographic signs, and only 13 of 100 owners reported any lameness.
These figures come from a 2023 review in Today's Veterinary Practice. The condition is common and the signs are easy to misread, so it helps to know what to look for.
Why is cat arthritis so often missed?
Cats mask pain
The review notes cats mask injury, so discomfort rarely shows as crying or favouring a leg.
Limping is uncommon
Limping and stiffness are much less common in cats than in dogs, mainly when arthritis is advanced or during a flare-up.
The signs are behavioural
A cat who stops jumping onto the bed is assumed to have changed preferences. The behaviour change is the same pain avoidance a dog shows, but the interpretation is different.
The review adds that radiographs alone have not proven to correlate well with clinical signs, so vets read them alongside the exam and your history. For more on what owners overlook, see our guide to the subtle signs of cat joint pain most owners miss.
What are the signs of arthritis in cats?
The review lists changes owners report, and Cornell's Feline Health Center describes similar signs. Look for:
- Changes in jumping and stair use, or reluctance to jump
- Less activity and more resting
- Less grooming, or an unkempt coat
- Reluctance to use the litter box, or awkward positioning in it
- Objecting to being handled while resting
- Changes in play and hunting, or social withdrawal
- Slowed, reclusive behaviour, which Cornell notes can be very subtle
Which joints are most affected?
Across two studies cited in the review, osteoarthritis was most common in the shoulders, elbows, spine, hips and tarsi (ankles). The review also notes Maine Coons are more prone to hip dysplasia than other breeds, with an estimated frequency of 24.9% in one study.
How do vets diagnose arthritis in cats?
Diagnosis combines your history, a hands-on exam and imaging.
Per the review, vets assess gait before restraining the cat, use home videos where available, and ideally palpate all four limbs. Good-quality X-rays often suffice, and sedation may be needed for painful or fractious cats. Baseline blood and urine tests are recommended before NSAID use. Cornell lists a full history, physical and orthopedic exam, and X-rays of the joints. Bring video from home, because cats often hide their signs in the clinic.
Not sure what is behind your cat's changes?
Take the free Calm Home Audit. Ten quick questions about your cat and your home, and you get the pattern named, the four things behind it, and how many rooms need covering. No email needed to see your result.
Take the Calm Home Audit βWhat helps a cat with arthritis?
Most vets combine home changes, weight management and, where needed, pain relief.
Cornell notes that palliative treatment, relying largely on pain medication and attentive home care, is most often recommended. The review calls weight management the most important part of care, since extra weight loads the joints, and notes only 14% of arthritic cats were obese. At home, it suggests moving food and water to easily reached spots, adding steps to favourite perches, and using litter boxes with one or more low sides.
| Option | What it is | Worth asking about |
|---|---|---|
| Solensia (frunevetmab) | A monthly injection from your vet that blocks nerve growth factor, a pain signal in arthritis | FDA approved for cat osteoarthritis pain. Common effects listed include vomiting, diarrhea and injection site pain |
| NSAIDs such as meloxicam | Prescription anti-inflammatory pain relief | Need baseline blood and urine tests and monitoring for stomach and kidney effects. Never use human painkillers |
| Gabapentin or tramadol | Prescription pain modulators | Used by some vets. The review calls for more research, and sedation is a side effect |
| Weight management | A vet-guided diet and feeding plan | Called the most important component of management in the review |
| Physical rehab, acupuncture, laser | Massage, range-of-motion work, acupuncture or low-level light therapy | The review describes rehab and acupuncture as helpful |
| Omega-3 and joint supplements | Fish oil and cartilage support ingredients made for cats | Omega-3 has been shown to slow cartilage destruction in dogs, and evidence in cats is still developing. Ask your vet for a cat-specific product |
Sources: Today's Veterinary Practice (Jaffe, 2023), Cornell Feline Health Center, and PetMD (Solensia).
What should you ask your vet?
Could this be arthritis?
Ask whether the changes you see fit joint pain, and what exam or imaging would help.
What are our options?
Ask which of the options above suit your cat's age, weight and other conditions.
What about my cat's kidneys and other conditions?
PetMD advises discussing Solensia for cats with other chronic conditions such as kidney disease, and NSAIDs need baseline testing.
How will we judge progress?
Agree on what you will track, such as jumping, grooming and play, and when to re-check.
Is a supplement appropriate?
Ask for a product made for cats and check the dose, since species and dosing differ.
When should you call the vet?
- Your cat suddenly cannot use a leg, or cries when touched
- Your cat stops eating or drinking, or seems very lethargic
- Your cat cannot get into the litter box, or has accidents more than once
- A fall or car strike is possible, since this can fracture or dislocate joint bones
Never give your cat a medication intended for dogs or people, since several common human painkillers are toxic to cats.
If It Turns Out to Be Stress, Not Pain
Pain is a veterinary matter first. Where your vet has ruled it out and the picture looks like stress instead, CalmGuard is an F3 pheromone diffuser that soothes the unsettled behaviour behind hiding, scratching and marking.
Shop CalmGuardFrequently Asked Questions
Arthritis is managed rather than cured. Cornell's Feline Health Center says palliative treatment, relying largely on pain medication and attentive home care, is most often recommended. Your vet can build a plan to keep your cat comfortable and mobile.
Radiographic changes are common in older cats. In a 100-cat study, many cats over 6 had changes in at least one joint, and 82% of cats over 14 had signs. Watching for changes in jumping, grooming and play at any age is useful, and your vet can check at routine visits.
Not necessarily. Cats with arthritis may still jump but less often, with hesitation, or to lower targets. Watch for changes over time rather than waiting for a cat who cannot jump at all.
Your vet takes a history, examines your cat's gait and limbs, and usually takes X-rays. Video from home helps, because cats often mask signs in the clinic.
Yes. Solensia (frunevetmab) is an FDA approved monthly injection given by a vet to control osteoarthritis pain in cats. Ask your vet whether it suits your cat.
No. In a review, only 14% of arthritic cats were obese, and some lose weight from muscle loss or reduced appetite. Weight management is still described as the most important part of care, so ask your vet to assess your cat's body condition.
No. Never give your cat a medication made for dogs or people, because several common human painkillers are toxic to cats. Your vet will advise on safe pain management.
You're already making the content. Get paid for it.
Commission on your link, or a flat fee per post. Your call. A real person reads every application and replies within two working days.
Apply in two minutesSources
- Jaffe M. Diagnosis and management of feline osteoarthritis. Today's Veterinary Practice. March/April 2023. todaysveterinarypractice.com
- Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell Feline Health Center. Is your cat slowing down? vet.cornell.edu
- Price M, reviewed by Morrison BJ and Fung C. Solensia for cats. PetMD, updated March 27, 2026. petmd.com
This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. Joint pain in cats is diagnosed by a veterinarian, and the behaviour changes described here have several possible causes including illness unrelated to joints. Prescription treatments should only be started, changed or stopped by your veterinarian. Never give your cat a medication or supplement intended for dogs or people, and never give pain relief without veterinary direction, since several common human painkillers are toxic to cats.
Most read
-
CatsMulti-Cat Household Stress: Why Your Cats Fight and How Pheromones Can Help8 min read
-
CatsCat Vomiting: Hairballs or Gut Problem?6 min read
-
CatsSeparation Anxiety in Cats7 min read
-
CatsCat Calming Collars, Diffusers & Sprays7 min read
-
CatsFeliway vs Pawganix: Cat Calming Compared7 min read
-
CatsCat Anxiety: The Complete Guide to Causes, Symptoms, and Solutions9 min read
