When an older cat stops leaping onto a favourite windowsill or begins sleeping downstairs instead of following you to bed, it is easy to put the change down to age. Often, however, reduced activity is not simply “slowing down.” Osteoarthritis is common in senior cats and can cause persistent cat joint pain that changes how they move, groom, play, use the litter tray, and interact with people.
Cats are good at hiding discomfort, so obvious limping is not always the first clue. Small changes in everyday routines can be more revealing. Recognising them early helps your veterinarian assess pain and protect your cat’s quality of life.
What arthritis does to a cat’s joints
Osteoarthritis, also called degenerative joint disease, is a progressive condition in which a joint’s normal structures deteriorate. Cartilage becomes damaged, the joint remodels, and inflammation contributes to stiffness and pain. Hips, elbows, knees, shoulders, and the spine can all be affected, and many older cats have changes in more than one joint.
Age is a major risk factor, but previous injuries, developmental problems such as hip dysplasia, and abnormal joint loading can also contribute. Excess body weight can make movement harder and increase stress on painful joints.
Signs of arthritis in older cats
Feline arthritis symptoms are usually behavioural as much as physical. Rather than waiting for a limp, compare what your cat does now with what was normal six or twelve months ago. A cat may pause before jumping, choose a lower surface, use several small hops instead of one jump, or pull itself up with the front legs. Stairs may be climbed more slowly or avoided.
Litter-tray habits can change too. A stiff cat may toilet beside the tray because stepping over a high edge hurts, not because it has forgotten its training. Grooming may become patchy, especially over the lower back and hindquarters, while nails can grow longer because scratching and climbing have decreased.
Other clues include sleeping more, playing less, resisting being picked up, becoming irritable when touched around the back or hips, and hesitating after a long rest. Reduced senior cat mobility may be subtle enough that family members notice only when they compare the cat’s current routine with older videos.
How a veterinarian confirms the problem
There is no useful home test for arthritis. A veterinarian will combine your observations with a physical examination and may assess posture, muscle loss, joint movement, pain responses, and gait. X-rays can show arthritic changes and help rule out other bone or joint problems, although visible changes do not always match how painful a cat appears.
Short phone videos can help because cats may move differently in a clinic. Record your cat using stairs, entering the litter tray, or getting onto a sofa so the veterinarian can see everyday movement at home.
Treatment is usually a combination, not a single fix
Arthritis cannot usually be reversed, but pain and mobility can often be managed well. The best plan is individual because older cats may also have kidney disease, heart disease, dental problems, or other conditions that affect medication choices.
Veterinary pain relief
Your veterinarian may recommend prescription pain treatment based on your cat’s health and local veterinary medicines. Options can include carefully selected anti-inflammatory medicines and other pain-modifying drugs. In some countries, frunevetmab, a feline monoclonal antibody that targets nerve growth factor, is authorised as a periodic injection for osteoarthritis pain. Response and possible adverse effects should be reviewed with the prescribing veterinarian.
Never give a cat human painkillers unless a veterinarian has specifically instructed you to do so. Common household medicines can be dangerous or fatal to cats, and even veterinary anti-inflammatory treatment may require health checks or blood tests in an older patient.
Make the home easier to navigate
Environmental changes can reduce painful movements. Use a low-entry litter tray, add a stable step or ramp to a favourite sofa or bed, and put non-slip runners on slick flooring. Food, water, beds, and litter trays should be easy to reach without repeated stair climbing.
For example, a 14-year-old cat that has stopped sleeping on the bed may still want to be there but find the jump difficult. A sturdy two-step route beside the bed, combined with warm padded bedding, can restore that routine without forcing a painful leap. Similar ideas fit naturally into a wider senior cat care plan and a practical home setup for older cats.
Weight, movement, and muscle matter
If a cat is overweight, gradual veterinarian-guided weight loss can reduce unnecessary load on sore joints. Complete inactivity is not ideal either. Gentle daily movement helps preserve muscle, which supports the joints. Try several short play sessions on the floor using a wand toy rather than encouraging repeated high jumps. Guidance on a healthy weight for cats can be especially useful when weight loss is part of the treatment plan.
What about cat joint supplements?
Cat joint supplements are widely sold, but evidence varies by ingredient and product. Omega-3 fatty acids may be useful in some joint-management plans, while evidence for glucosamine and chondroitin in cats is less consistent. Discuss supplements with a veterinarian, especially if your cat has other medical conditions or takes medication. They should be viewed as possible additions to a broader plan, not substitutes for effective pain relief.
When to contact the vet quickly
Gradual stiffness deserves a veterinary appointment, but sudden severe lameness is different. Seek prompt care if your cat suddenly cannot use a leg, cries in pain, has suffered a fall or other trauma, becomes weak or distressed, or stops eating alongside a major mobility change. Not every movement problem in an older cat is arthritis, and some alternatives require urgent treatment.
Frequently asked questions
At what age do cats usually get arthritis?
Arthritic changes become increasingly common as cats age, but there is no single age when the condition begins. Some cats develop problems earlier because of injury, joint abnormalities, or other risk factors.
Can arthritis in cats be cured?
Osteoarthritis is generally a chronic, progressive condition rather than something that can be cured. Treatment focuses on controlling pain, maintaining useful movement, and adapting the cat’s environment so daily activities remain comfortable.
How can I tell whether my older cat is in pain?
Look for changes in jumping, stairs, grooming, litter-tray use, sleep locations, play, and tolerance of handling. A change from your cat’s own normal behaviour is often more informative than waiting for obvious limping.
Should an arthritic cat still exercise?
Usually, yes, but activity should be gentle and comfortable. Short floor-level play sessions can help maintain muscle without demanding repeated jumps. If movement seems painful or your cat deteriorates after activity, ask your veterinarian to adjust the plan.
Helping an older cat stay comfortably active
Arthritis does not have to mean accepting pain as an unavoidable part of ageing. The strongest clue is often a pattern of small changes: lower jumps, slower stairs, reduced grooming, or reluctance to use familiar places. Veterinary pain control, home modifications, weight management, and gentle movement can make everyday life much easier. Keep watching what your cat can do comfortably, because daily behaviour is one of the best measures of whether treatment is working.