Osteoarthritis in Cats: A Hidden and Treatable Pain Condition

Feline osteoarthritis is extremely common but dramatically underdiagnosed. Effective treatments exist that can transform quality of life for affected cats.

Key Facts

Recent studies using CT scanning suggest that approximately 90% of cats over 12 years have radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis.
Unlike dogs, cats with OA rarely limp; signs are subtle: reduced grooming, reluctance to jump, altered behaviour, and aggression when handled.
The most commonly affected joints are the elbow, hip, and spine; the feline OA pattern differs from dogs.
Feline-specific treatments include meloxicam (low-dose long-term is safe in cats with renal monitoring) and the anti-NGF antibody frunevetmab (Solensia).
Solensia, a monthly subcutaneous injection, has shown significant improvement in owner-assessed mobility and quality of life.
Environmental modifications including ramps, lower-sided litter boxes, and raised food bowls improve daily comfort significantly.
The chronic pain of OA causes behavioural changes including aggression, reduced interaction, and decreased activity often attributed to "normal ageing".
Owner-reported outcome measures validated for feline OA include the CSOM (Client-Specific Outcome Measures) and Feline Musculoskeletal Pain Index.

Welfare Considerations

Feline OA represents a massive, largely invisible welfare burden in the companion cat population. The combination of high prevalence, subtle presentation, and owner attribution to normal ageing means that the majority of arthritic cats never receive appropriate diagnosis or treatment. In reality, feline OA is a painful condition causing chronic welfare compromise, and effective treatments including anti-NGF therapy now exist that provide meaningful pain relief. The introduction of Solensia has been a watershed moment for feline pain management: a monthly injection that owners appreciate because it avoids the stress of daily pilling, and that cats appreciate because it provides sustained pain control. Screening older cats routinely for OA signs is one of the highest-welfare interventions available to companion cat medicine.

What You Can Do

Ask your vet to assess your older cat for osteoarthritis signs at every health check.
Recognise subtle signs of OA in cats: difficulty jumping, changed grooming habits, reduced activity.
Discuss modern feline OA treatment options including anti-NGF therapy with your vet.
Modify your home environment to support an arthritic cat: ramps, lower litter boxes, easy food access.
Do not attribute your older cat's behaviour changes to "just ageing" without veterinary assessment.
Support research into feline musculoskeletal pain assessment and novel treatments.