Seasons of change….

Anyone with arthritis will know that a change in weather often affects their pain levels. The same seems to be true of cats suffering with the condition.

Earlier this year our oldest girl received a diagnosis, after she started struggling to walk on her back legs. Transpires they’d been giving her pain and she’d overcompensated using her front legs resulting in a loss of muscle mass.

If you have a cat with arthritis or any condition under this particular umbrella, you’ll know how distressing it can be to see a cat struggling with something that had always been done with ease.

I thought I’d write this blog to list some signs to look for that may indicate your cat has the condition, and some of the ways you can make their life a little easier.

The most common signs cat carers may notice include:

• Difficulty getting up and down
• Walking stiffly
• Lameness in one or more legs
• Reluctance to go up and/or down stairs
• Reluctance to jump up or down (onto/off furniture or into/out of a vehicle)
• Stiff, swollen, or sore joints
• Reluctance to be touched on some parts of the body
• Unexpected aggression towards other cats or towards humans

You can help your cat to feel more comfortable by doing the following:

• Soft, padded bedding
• Raised food and water dishes (elbow height)
• Non-skid floor surfaces
• A ramp or stool/step for getting onto higher surfaces
• Adhering to prescribed feeding and medication recommendations

Obviously, after the diagnosis, they’ll be some signs of discomfort. But for the most part with the right medication and mindfulness so you can address day to day activities your cat may struggle with more, quality of life will still be good for your feline family member.