Companion Animal Welfare

Cat Arthritis Silent Suffering

How osteoarthritis causes widespread silent suffering in cats, why it is underdiagnosed, and what can be done to improve recognition and treatment.

Key Facts

Studies suggest over 90% of cats over 10 years have radiographic evidence of arthritis
Cats rarely vocalise pain and hide illness as a survival behaviour
Signs of arthritis in cats include reduced jumping, grooming changes, and altered litter use
The Feline Grimace Scale and specific mobility assessments can identify arthritic cats
NSAID and other analgesic treatments significantly improve quality of life in arthritic cats

Welfare Considerations

Feline arthritis is an enormous but largely invisible source of suffering. Cats' instinct to mask pain means that even severe chronic arthritis often goes unrecognised. The high prevalence of arthritis in senior cats combined with underdiagnosis means that a large proportion of older cats live with unnecessary chronic pain. Routine screening with validated tools and proactive analgesic treatment would substantially reduce this welfare burden.

What You Can Do

Ask your vet to assess your senior cat for arthritis at each health check
Learn the subtle behavioural signs of arthritis in cats
Provide easily accessible resources including low-sided litter boxes and ramps for senior cats