A female petting a relaxed cat on their lap.
Cat arthritis

Understanding the signs of arthritis in cats

You know your cat best, and recognising any signs of arthritis is a vital step in maintaining their quality of life. Often, the signs you notice reflect the pain your cat feels and their response to it. However, cats are masters at hiding pain, and it’s easy to mistake these signs for general ageing. This can delay early diagnosis of arthritis – which is crucial to keep your cat happy, healthy and pain-free. Watch our animated videos below to explore the signs of arthritis in more detail, so you know what to look out for.

Text "Difficulty jumping up" with orange swirl on white background.
Difficulty jumping up

As arthritis progresses, joint pain and stiffness make jumping up increasingly difficult. Arthritic joints can have reduced shock absorption capacity, making jumping more painful for your cat. Because cats anticipate this pain, they become hesitant when jumping up.

Text "Difficulty jumping down" with orange swirl on white background.
Difficulty jumping down

Your cat may show hesitance or use steps when jumping down. This is because arthritis reduces shock absorption within the joints, making the impact of landing more painful for your cat. Because cats anticipate this pain, they become hesitant when jumping down.

Text "Difficulty going up stairs" with orange swirl on white background.
Difficulty going up stairs

Climbing stairs exacerbates joint pain due to increased physical demands on joints affected by arthritis. You may have noticed that your cat has adjusted how they move when climbing stairs or they may now avoid stairs completely. Some cats ‘bunny hop’ up the stairs rather than moving their legs separately. Even on short flights of stairs, cats with arthritis often stop for a break midway.

Text "Difficulty going down stairs" with orange swirl on white background.
Difficulty going down stairs

Coming down the stairs can be challenging for cats experiencing arthritis pain. Some cats descend at an angle to reduce the pressure placed on their sore elbows and shoulders in order to avoid this pain.

Text "Difficulty chasing moving objects" with orange swirl on white background.
Difficulty chasing moving objects

Joint pain from arthritis may reduce your cat's ability to engage in playful and rewarding activities like chasing and pouncing. This could be mistaken as a decrease in interest towards playing, but it may in fact be a sign that your cat is avoiding the joint pain they know they will experience.

Text "Difficulty running" with orange swirl on white background.
Difficulty running

Arthritis can cause cats to experience discomfort or pain while running, leading to reduced speed, altered gait, or avoidance of running altogether. Cats will naturally try to avoid joint pain associated with running, which is why you are noticing these changes.

Text "Is less playful" with orange swirl on white background.
Is less playful

While your cat may seem less playful, it might actually be a sign that your cat is avoiding play because they are anticipating joint pain. Joint pain from arthritis may reduce your cat's ability to engage in playful and rewarding activities like chasing and pouncing.

Text "Is more irritable" with orange swirl on white background.
Is more irritable

Pain from arthritis leads to increased pain around the joints, and elsewhere in the body, and cats increasingly experience negative emotions. They may become more irritable and react defensively during your interactions because they are anticipating that it might cause them pain.

Text "Has trouble sleeping" with orange swirl on white background.
Has trouble sleeping

Discomfort from arthritis disrupts sleep patterns. You may notice your cat searching for alternative resting spots because they are trying to alleviate pressure on painful joints. They may also appear to struggle as they try to find a comfortable resting position because of the arthritis pain they are experiencing.

Text "Has accidents outside the litter tray / box" with orange swirl on white background.
Has accidents outside the litter tray / box

Joint pain can make it difficult for your cat to get into their litter tray, as even the simple act of stepping over the sides might cause them discomfort. Your cat may do their best to reach the tray, but the arthritis pain they are experiencing could prevent them from getting inside, leading to accidents nearby.

Text "Taking less care of fur (grooming themselves)" with orange swirl on white background.
Taking less care of fur (grooming themselves)

Joint pain can make grooming difficult for your cat, as their discomfort limits their ability to reach certain areas of their body. Cats with arthritis may groom themselves less often, not because they don't want to, but because it hurts to do so. This can lead to a noticeable decline in the condition and appearance of your cat's coat.

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