Arthritis affects the majority of cats over 12 years old but is rarely diagnosed because cats mask pain effectively, leaving millions of senior cats with treatable chronic musculoskeletal pain.
Feline arthritis causes chronic pain at a scale that is both enormous and largely invisible to owners and the broader public. A cat that has stopped using the top tier of a cat tree or takes longer to settle on a sofa is communicating pain through subtle behaviour changes that require owner education to detect. Pain assessment using validated tools including the Feline Musculoskeletal Pain Index allows objective documentation that informs treatment decisions and tracks response. The development of solensia (frunevetmab), a monthly injectable anti-nerve growth factor antibody licensed specifically for feline osteoarthritis pain, has transformed management options for owners who struggle with daily tablet administration. Environmental modifications including ramps, low-sided litter boxes, and accessible elevated resting spots directly address the functional consequences of pain by enabling cats to maintain their preferred activities despite mobility limitation.