Top 10 Symptoms of Arthritis in Cats + Signs of Pain

Just how can you tell if your cat has arthritis? what are the symptoms of arthritis in cats? The last thing you want is for them to be really painful and suffering in silence. They can be great at hiding their pain. Join me as I go through the signs of pain in cats and the 10 main symptoms of arthritis in cats.

Cats are the great hiders of disease and so it can be much harder to spot when they have a problem.  Arthritis is no different.  Cats tend to adapt their behavior much better and as a result you may only notice signs of a problem when things are much more advanced.  Or if you know what signs and symptoms to look for!

My top symptoms of arthritis and signs of pain are:
- Limping in severe pain
- Trouble climbing and jumping
- Reduced grooming and matted fur
- Sleeping all the time
- Stop playing and inactivity
- Stop using litter tray
- Become reclusive
- Change in personality and behavior

If you notice any of them make sure you get your cat checked out by your vet.  Your cat deserves to be pain free in their old age so let them have the quality of life they deserve.

What signs have you noticed in your cat that makes you think they have arthritis?  I'd love to read them in the comments below.

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The information provided on the Our Pets Health YouTube channel is not a substitute for the examination, assessment and advice given in person by a suitably qualified veterinary surgeon. The information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute specific vet advice for any individual cat, dog or other animal of any species.

[nicolettehecker]

Our cat one day just didn’t walk, laid down and didn’t want to walk and just slept. When we brought him to the vet, we thought he was dying, he did walk with a limp and had a hard time jumping on his food and drink table. We never realized he had arthritis. Our vet offered solensia within two weeks he was like he used to be when he was younger. Some cats it takes longer to work. He’s had one shot a month. Best thing ever.

[mumo]

Yup, 8/10, he's been laying out in the sun, but, when we bring him in at dusk he's so out of character! I suspected & just pressed lightly over his joints & for the first time ever he actually growled😓 Vets tomorrow! He's only 10, but I've heard that ginger cats age worse? He's been a therapy cat to my son with a terminal cardiac disease since he was 1yrs old! What a "ninja ginger blessing" let's see what tomorrow brings?

[kimberlygalati]

Thank you so much for endearing and caring video. My cat is about 21yrs old. Bless her heart. I was/am thinking that she is having cramps maybe some arthritis. I have made an extra step for her to get on/off my bed and couch. Her fur does have some matting (which I eventually cut off cuz it causes her to have "seizures "). Then, she bites out her hair, which causes a sensitive spot. She reluctantly loves a warm bath, though. Just wanted to share and thank you again.❤

[tbaymufon]

I picked up an extremely low THC, human grade CBD - about $100 cheaper than pet specific but the exact same thing. I give my 15 yr old cat 50 mg in the morning and bam! He's a kitten again about 15 min later

[christmaszorro]

You explained that very well and in a calm narrative voice. Thank you. My poor beast has all those symptoms.

[bfbs]

My cat has all the symptoms thank you for telling the signs.

[chaoticfroggo]

My cat has some of these symthoms so we placed her food bowl a little higher so she wont have to bend down as much to reach it, and gave her a heating pad to sleep on and is already doing better, ty :)

[IHeartQuilting]

My 4 cats, all from the same litter, are 14 and all have varying amounts of arthritis. Only one showed obvious symptoms - she very slowly settled into catloaf. One showed no problems until excruciating pain (saw vet within an hour). He was crying and very obviously terrified. Two avoided stairs (used to zoom) and refused to chase dot light. Thing is, you need to have it diagnosed (Xray works well) before treating. We thought their mama had arthritis but it turned out to be cancer.

[jSutliff]

My cat was walking funny and her ilium bone was sticking out of her back on the left side of her sacrum(popped up over night). She was also going back and forth to the litter box and straining to poop with no results. Sometimes she would vomit while straining.

I asked my vet what was sticking out of her back and he knocked on it like a door and said it felt like bone but it was not bothering her so no need to worry about it.

He said she had a GI infection but she was in great health because she was purring.

She had a broken pelvis 6 years before this. She was never able to jump over 18” after the surgery.

I was back with the same symptoms 2 weeks later and he thought it was a canker sore causing her symptoms so he cut it off.

That didnt help and I was back 2 weeks later again. Then he started treating her symptoms with only 40mg depomedrol injections, eventually every 2 weeks. It did make her eat more, but she started vomiting a lot more, especially when trying to poop.

She developed a bout of diarrhea after being constipated for 5 months. It wasn’t a lot of diarrhea but it stunk really bad. He told to me to feed her foods higher in protein like tuna, and if it wasn’t better in 4 days then I could give her OTC Kaopectate at 4ml every 6 hours.

I quit feeding her cheese because I thought that might be causing her constipation. My vet told me that cheese was healthy for cats.

Then when she had been 4 days without eating or drinking, she had yellow ears and pale gums, and was probably 10% dehydrated(her eyes were sunk and you had to push her skin back in place after tenting), he said we could probably get another 2 weeks out of her with another 40mg depomedrol injection. Seems like fluids would have helped when he gave her that injection, but they don’t use them.

[Silvia-roqz]

My cat is 12 years old and suffers from arthritis. The vet recommended I give her Cosequin, which is a supplement that contains glucosamine and chondroitin. I just add it to her food. It really seems to help.

[ianparr]

Thank you for these signs! My cat has most of these symptoms except she isn’t really grumpy or annoyed when we pet her.

[chaturaganegala]

Great video that helps me understand this better :-). Thank you.

[berenicehickey]

Overgrooming is an indicator of pain in my rxperience.y current kitty eas doing this and an x ray revealed arthritis in the areas he was overgrooming....

[truthbetold]

my cat as some of those symptoms, but i modified everything in the house from putting padding and pillow where he jumps off to making things easier for him, he limps on is front leg. I also use a glucosamine MSM supplement and omega 3 hemp oil supplement, turmeric, ginger ashwagandha, red reishi and 5 defender mushrooms therapy. Some days are worse than others for the limping. I do not want to give him drugs anti inflammatory that could cause other problems.

[yasmindavidson]

Cbd is really beneficial for arthritis in pets

[helentart]

My cat Chunk. We got him from cats protection. I think he has Arthur as we had to put back board on low tray as he can’t crouch to pee and meows angry when we stroke him. Vet checked him he’s just old.

[dougferguson]

What's the BEST RELIEF for older cats ? Help

[NinaWn]

Thank you for his video and the online course, our 21 year old cat has arthritis, diabetes and kidney problems, but for his age and all this he is still quite active and doesnt look a day over 20. 🙃 (We see the vet on a regular basis to have him checked.)
I was looking for what more things I can do to make life as painless as possible for him and in your course there were a few things that i hadnt thought of myself, so on behalf of our cat Mori: thank you!

[shirleyswaine]

Thank you, this was very useful. My cat - two months from 20 - has changed a lot in the past 6 weeks but of course, with lockdown, vets are only seeing emergencies. I put most of these changed down to age, possibly with death near - but he has retained a good appetite and weight (not over weight). Only last night it occurred to me he might have arthritis, especially as he can be 'up and down'. I have arthritis myself and know some days are pain free and others are awful.

[josephinegeorge]

What I noticed is her holding her spine arched when she walks. She is 19 years old.