Degenerative joint disease (arthritis) is extremely common in older cats but dramatically underdiagnosed and undertreated. Improving recognition and management of feline chronic pain is one of the highest-impact areas in companion animal welfare.
Feline arthritis represents a major hidden welfare problem. Because cats mask pain so effectively and because owners and even veterinarians often attribute reduced activity to ageing, the majority of cats living with chronic arthritic pain are never diagnosed or treated. Unlike dogs, who typically show more obvious lameness, arthritic cats simply move less, jump less, and interact less — changes owners may welcome as the cat becoming "calmer." The welfare impact is substantial: months or years of daily pain that is entirely treatable. Veterinary consultations focused on proactive screening — asking specific questions about jumping behaviour, stair use, and grooming — in cats over 7 years significantly improve detection rates. Once diagnosed, even modest improvements in pain management produce measurable improvements in activity levels and social engagement. The introduction of anti-NGF antibody treatments represents a significant advance, providing effective monthly pain control with lower kidney risk than traditional NSAIDs — a critical advantage given the high prevalence of concurrent CKD in the same age group.