How to recognize osteoarthritis in aging cats, a commonly underdiagnosed source of chronic pain, and evidence-based treatment options.
Feline arthritis represents a welfare crisis hidden by cat stoicism and diagnostic underperformance. The mismatch between the true prevalence of arthritis in older cats and the rate at which it is diagnosed and treated means that millions of cats experience chronic, inadequately managed pain throughout their senior years. Recognition requires owner education about subtle behavioral signs and proactive veterinary assessment including orthopedic examination and radiography. Treatment with appropriate NSAIDs, environmental modification, and adjunctive therapies dramatically improves quality of life. The welfare imperative of managing chronic pain in senior cats should motivate routine geriatric health assessments including arthritis-specific evaluation for all cats over age 8.