Arthritis in Senior Cats: The Signs Almost Nobody Sees

Cats don't limp, they adapt

Dogs with sore joints limp. Cats quietly rearrange their lives: they stop jumping to the counter, take stairs one at a time, sleep in lower spots, groom their back half less, and get grumpy about being picked up. Owners read this as slowing down; it's usually pain.

The home audit

Walk through your house and note what your cat used to do and no longer does. The windowsill they abandoned, the bed they no longer join you on, the litter tray they now stand in awkwardly. That list is more diagnostically useful to your vet than any single exam moment.

Treatment has improved a lot

Feline arthritis care now includes cat-safe anti-inflammatories, monthly injectable treatments, joint supplements, and weight management — which alone dramatically reduces joint load. Never give human painkillers or dog medications; several are lethal to cats.

Comfort engineering

Ramps or steps to favourite perches, low-entry litter trays, raised bowls, warm padded beds away from drafts, and rugs on slippery floors. Cats with managed arthritis reclaim old habits surprisingly fast — the day they jump back onto the windowsill tells you it was pain all along.