Is Your Cat Slowing Down? It Might Be More Than Just Aging
A guide to degenerative joint disease in cats — from the team at East End Veterinary Hospital
When your cat starts sleeping more, jumping less, or seems grumpy when you try to pet them, it’s easy to chalk it up to getting older. But in many cases, there’s something more specific going on — and it has a name: degenerative joint disease, or DJD.
What exactly is DJD?
Your cat’s joints are remarkably well-engineered. Where two bones meet, smooth cartilage covers the ends of each bone, and the joint is bathed in lubricating fluid — all designed to allow effortless, friction-free movement.
DJD (also called osteoarthritis) is what happens when that cartilage slowly breaks down over time. As the cushioning deteriorates, the bones lose their smooth gliding surface. The joint becomes inflamed, painful, and unstable. The body responds by forming scar tissue and bony growths in an attempt to stabilize things — but this actually makes the problem worse, creating a cycle that’s difficult to reverse.
How common is it?
More common than most people realize. Studies have found that 22% of cats over one year old show evidence of DJD on X-rays — and that number jumps to 90% in cats aged 12 and older. The joints most frequently affected are the hips, knees, ankles, and elbows.
Overweight cats are at higher risk, both because of the extra mechanical load on their joints and because obesity itself drives low-grade inflammation throughout the body.
The signs are easy to miss
Unlike dogs, cats with arthritis rarely limp or cry out in pain. Instead, the signs are subtle — and often mistaken for normal aging:
- Jumping up or down less than they used to (or refusing to altogether)
- Sleeping more / seeming less interested in moving around
- Increased grumpiness or irritability, especially when touched near the affected joints
- Morning stiffness
- Neglecting grooming or avoiding the scratching post
- Difficulty getting in and out of the litter box
Not every cat shows every sign, which is part of why DJD is so often overlooked.
What can be done?
The damage from DJD can’t be undone, but there’s a lot that can be done to keep your cat comfortable and slow the progression.
Environmental changes are a great starting point and cost nothing. Adding a step or ramp to favourite perching spots, switching to a litter box with lower sides, placing food and water where your cat doesn’t have to strain to reach them — small adjustments like these can make a real difference in daily quality of life.
Pain management is usually central to treatment. Options your veterinarian may discuss include:
- NSAIDs like meloxicam (Metacam®) or robenacoxib (Onsior®) to reduce joint inflammation
- Solensia®, a newer injectable antibody treatment that blocks pain signals between the joint and the brain
- Gabapentin for nerve-related pain, often used alongside other medications
- Amantadine, which enhances the effect of other pain relievers
One important note: never give your cat human pain relievers. Even a single acetaminophen tablet can be fatal to a cat. Always check with your vet before giving any medication.
Nutritional support can also help. Therapeutic diets (like Royal Canin Mobility Support or Hill’s j/d) are designed specifically for arthritic patients. Supplements such as omega-3 fatty acids, undenatured type II collagen (Flexadin Advanced®), and green-lipped mussel (Antinol®) all have evidence supporting their use in cats with DJD. Glucosamine and chondroitin are widely used as well, though the evidence base for cats is still developing.
Rehabilitation therapy — including laser therapy, hydrotherapy, and acupuncture — is a growing part of veterinary care and may be an option worth exploring for cats with significant arthritis. Some specialty practices also offer stem cell therapy and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections.
When to come in
If your cat is showing any of the signs above — especially if they’re getting on in years — it’s worth having them assessed. A physical exam and X-rays can help us determine whether DJD is involved and how advanced it is. From there, we can put together a plan that fits your cat’s specific situation.
Give us a call at 709-401-1121, email info@eastendvethospital.ca, or book online.
