Cat arthritis is common, treatable joint pain that can quietly reduce movement, grooming, jumping, and litter-box access. This September 2026 FAQ explains the signs, diagnosis, treatments, and home changes that matter. Feline osteoarthritis occurs when joint cartilage breaks down, causing pain, inflammation, and permanent joint changes. Treatment can slow progression and help cats move more comfortably.
Table of Contents
- What does arthritis look like in cats?
- How is feline arthritis diagnosed?
- What medicines can control arthritis pain?
- What can I change at home?
- Do supplements or non-drug treatments work?
What does arthritis look like in cats?
Cats often hide pain instead of limping. Watch for reduced jumping, less stair use, decreased grooming, lower activity, or difficulty reaching the litter box, food, water, or favorite resting places.
A quieter "senior" cat may be painful rather than simply slowing down. In a 2011 radiographic study of 100 client-owned cats aged six years or older, researchers found osteoarthritis in at least one joint in 61% of cats and in multiple joints in 48%; prevalence increased with age. The Utrecht University study indexed by PubMed provides that estimate.
How is feline arthritis diagnosed?
Diagnosis usually combines your observations at home, a physical and orthopedic examination, and radiographs. Record changes in jumping, walking, grooming, play, stairs, and litter-box use so the veterinarian can assess the pattern.
Home videos can help, especially when a cat moves differently in the clinic. X-rays also have limits: a painful joint may show little or no corresponding radiographic change, according to International Cat Care's 2024 home-environment guide. International Cat Care's guide supports using both home history and clinical assessment.
What medicines can control arthritis pain?
Veterinarian-directed pain relief may include Solensia, a monthly subcutaneous injection approved by the FDA to control osteoarthritis pain in cats. It targets nerve growth factor and is not an NSAID, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug; the dose is based on body weight. The FDA-approved DailyMed label describes its approval and administration. The same label reports vomiting, injection-site pain, diarrhea, lethargy, dermatitis, appetite loss, and renal insufficiency among field-study adverse events.
It also states that effects beyond six months and safe concurrent NSAID use have not been established. No NSAID is FDA-approved for long-term osteoarthritis treatment in cats. FDA-approved meloxicam and robenacoxib have limited feline indications, and repeated or inappropriate dosing can cause serious kidney or other toxicity, so never adjust a cat's pain medicine without veterinary direction. The FDA's pain-reliever guidance explains these restrictions.
What can I change at home?
Make essential resources easier to reach and reduce movements that trigger pain. Useful changes include: Weight control should be gradual when a cat is overweight. Home adjustments can improve access and comfort, but they do not replace assessment or veterinarian-directed analgesia.
- Place food, water, beds, and resting spots where the cat can reach them easily.
- Offer a low-entry litter tray.
- Reduce the need for stairs or high jumps.
- Keep changes gradual, especially when managing an overweight cat.
- Share short videos of movement changes with the veterinarian.
Do supplements or non-drug treatments work?
Evidence for many supplements and non-drug therapies remains limited or uneven. Treat these options as additions to a veterinary management plan rather than reliable substitutes for pain control.
The most useful first steps are documenting changes, arranging an examination, following the prescribed treatment, and adapting the home environment. A cat that stops jumping or grooming may need pain assessment even without an obvious limp.