Creaky Cats: Arthritis and More
 
 
Aches and pains are part of the price we pay for getting older, and cats are no exception. Because cats are small, well-muscled creatures, they seem to suffer less from arthritis than dogs, but many elderly cats do have a hard time jumping up on the countertops or navigating the stairs. Most owners assume that this is caused by arthritis, but there are several other common causes for old-age stiffness in cats.

Low potassium is the most common cause of stiffness of geriatric felines. The aging kidneys lose potassium in the urine faster than the cat can replace it from the diet, and once the potassium in the cells becomes depleted, the muscles become stiff and weak. In some cases the neck muscles are most affected, but many cats simply walk with a stiff gait and find it difficult to jump up to the couch.

We now realize that cats commonly suffer from Diabetic Neuropathy, a painful condition in which the fine nerve fibers in the feet and legs deteriorate because of high blood sugar levels. These cats may act like their legs are stiff and weak (especially the back legs, which may show "dropped hocks"), or they may simply start urinating outside of the litter box because their feet are overly sensitive to the texture of the litter.
Similar symptoms occur when the old cat has back pain, which may be caused by spinal deterioration or by pain in the kidneys (just under the mid-spinal area).

And sometimes the creaky old cat is simply arthritic.

Arthritis can cause sore joints more often than we realize.  Cats in pain tend to simply take it easy; "if it hurts, don't do it" is the feline philosophy.  Arthritis presents a particular problem in cats, because many of the anti-inflammatory medications and pain-killers that are used in dogs are not safe for cats. We can provide relief, however.

If the cat is overweight, losing the extra pounds can be very helpful. Since the "big boys" over 15 pounds tend to be most affected by joint disease, encouraging weight loss is vital to the creature comfort of the older cat.

Glucosamine/chondroitin nutritional supplements work even better for cats than for humans and dogs.  A powdered version is available  and most cats love it when we add 1/8 teaspoon to a little snack of canned food every day.

Although there are no anti-inflammatory medications approved for use in cats, we do use these drugs to help provide relief.  Meloxicam is the most commonly used arthritis medication for cats, but it should be used cautiously; a dose every 3rd day seems to be well tolerated by most cats.
Correcting other health conditions that add to the cat’s stiffness may also provide relief. Our veterinarians can help determine the best way to make your cat more comfortable.