As cats age, the tissue between joints begins to wear down. Bone rubs against bone, making moving painful. But cats are notorious for hiding pain! You’re going to have to watch for clues:
“Let me just lay around, please.” A cat with osteoarthritis will be less inclined to move. They won’t be as excited about jumping on the kitchen counter, or stalking the new puppy. They’ll be less interested in catching the laser light, or pouncing on the robovac. They avoid the stairs, and running is not fun anymore. The decreased movement can lead to weight gain.
“I’ll take a bath in the morning.” Cats in pain sort of let themselves go, because grooming is just too painful. Their coat may get matted, and their skin and coat may look greasy or unhealthy.
“Don’t touch me!” Your cat may stop wanting to sleep in your bed. You may actually see ripples when you try to pet her. Some cats hide and avoid their owners altogether.
“Yeah. I’m grumpy.” Cats may sit with a hunched back, or try to curl up tightly in a ball. Some cats begin to display aggression. Normally friendly cats can avoid interaction.
If your cat is aging a bit, and is displaying any of the above behaviors, talk to us. We’ll do a complete examination, and try to pinpoint the cause. If it’s osteoarthritis, we may recommend Solensia®, a remarkable new drug that treats the symptoms of OA. If your cat is telling you any of the above, he may also be telling you to make an appointment to talk to us about Solensia®.
