Keep the camera rolling for your cat!

If you have a cat, it is highly probable that your camera rolls are easily filled up with photos you take of his or her maneuvers and activities! It goes without saying that having full camera rolls on your feline companion means you want him or her to be that playful and active all of the time.

That is, however, possible only if you purposefully pay attention to problems that could impact the cat’s activity and quality of life.

There is nothing as boring as having a cat that is not active or playful. An inactive cat could be because you and the feline are disconnected from each other! That could arise for various reasons, including cat joint pain and not giving the feline the attention they’re used to.

Did you know that cats were worshiped as gods in ancient times and that they have not forgotten this? Keep that in mind as a cat owner! Furthermore, ask yourself the following questions: Is your cat giving you a funny look? Or did you just watch them do something silly and pretend it didn’t happen? Did he or she knock over their pet bowl and just walk briskly away? Are you failing to interpret the feline’s personality lately?

A friend of mine who is a fan of cats invited me to his home to just study the behavior of these companions. He told me that a couple of her cats had begun to stay in isolation, but she could not understand why because her work schedule could not allow her to interact with all her cats as she used to.

She therefore wanted me to help her find out what the two felines were up to. It was during this spying venture on the cats that I realized how cats could conceal their pain!

I discovered that the affected cats had poor grooming habits, no desire for food, appeared depressed throughout, urinated or defecated outside the litter pans, and had trouble climbing on and off items. Being a trained veterinarian, I immediately connected these clinical signs with osteoarthritis in cats!

I decided to conduct some Internet research to learn about the best options for arthritis relief in cats so that when my friend came home after work, I could provide her with my findings about the state of her cats as well as the best remedies for the problems.

The best options in arthritis relief for cats

Arthritis, which is also known as degenerative joint disease or osteoarthritis, is a chronic, painful, and progressive condition involving the joints of cats. The best solutions are chosen when the cause of the problem is known.

While arthritis is commonly associated with aging (it affects more than 70% of cats over the age of 12), it can also be caused by ligament injury, tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease, infection, congenital defect, direct trauma from accidents like falls, and immune-mediated diseases like immune-mediated non-erosive polyarthritis. Knowing the cause can help you single out the best pain relief option from among the several that exist.

The arthritis relief options that exist for cats include the administration of pain medications, cat arthritis supplements, and medical or supportive care.

Pain medications

The pain medications that could be used in arthritis relief for cats include the following:

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories such as meloxicam and Onslor, which should be administered under the direction of a vet because they could have a strain on internal organ function.
• Opioids, which also require precaution because they could cause sedation.
• Gabapentin
• Polysulfated glycosaminoglycan, which is an injectable medication that supports joint health by stopping destructive enzymes within the joint.

Cat arthritis supplements

The cat arthritis supplements that could be used in arthritis relief for cats include the following:

• Over-the-counter glucosamine/chondroitin supplement to support cartilage and bones.
• Omega-3 fatty acids, which significantly decrease joint inflammations.
• Cannabidiol (CBD), which requires a vet’s guidance regarding its use in pain management before starting to use.

Medical/supportive care

You could provide the following medical/supportive care to relief your cat’s arthritis pain:

• Laser therapy (cold laser)
• Acupuncture
• Stem cell therapy
• Warm or cold compresses
• Physical therapy
• Surgery

The effectiveness of cat arthritis supplements in relieving cat joint pain

When my friend came back from work, I shared with her both my diagnosis of the problem and the above-mentioned treatment options. She chose the cat arthritis supplement option. We contacted leading veterinary suppliers in the area to order the best cat arthritis supplements, and after my friend dutifully adhered to the dosage provided on the packaging, she informed me that the cats had regained their vitality and playfulness.

Use cat arthritis supplements to protect your cat from osteoarthritis

I recommend that any cat owner give their cats cat arthritis supplements, particularly to breeds prone to osteoarthritis, to protect them from developing osteoarthritis.