Arthritis affects the majority of older cats and is dramatically undertreated because its signs are subtle and easily confused with normal aging, causing widespread unrecognized suffering.
Feline arthritis represents a massive hidden welfare crisis. The majority of geriatric cats live with significant chronic musculoskeletal pain that goes unrecognized because cats do not vocalize pain and behavioral changes are subtle and gradual. Owners notice their cat jumps less, grooms less thoroughly, sleeps more, and is less interactive — and attribute all of this to normal aging rather than treatable pain. Veterinarians who screen elderly cats for arthritis using validated questionnaires and physical examination consistently find pain that was not suspected by owners. Effective treatment significantly improves observed activity, grooming, and interaction, confirming the magnitude of the underlying pain relief. The emergence of anti-NGF monoclonal antibodies represents a major advance for cats with concurrent kidney disease where NSAIDs are contraindicated.