Top Five Ways to Help Your Aging Cat with Arthritis
Recent studies provide radiographic (x-ray) evidence of arthritis in the limb joints affecting between 60% and more than 90% of all cats aged 12 years and older.
Arthritis is a common problem in cats, and much more common in older cats. However, until recently, it was not diagnosed or treated due to lack of recognition from pet owners and veterinarians. To be fair to pet owners, it is difficult to notice the signs of arthritis in cats as they timid in nature and less vocal about their pain compared to other animals.
Arthritis is a degenerative disease most commonly seen in senior pets. It causes inflammation and swelling of joints, which is very painful. In older cats, it slowly creeps in making their mobility quite difficult. With increase in age, the normal wear and tear affects the smooth layer of cartilage that covers the bones. It hampers the cat’s quality of life, if it is not treated or proper care is not taken.It is essential for you as a pet owner to look for signs of arthritis at an early stage, especially when your cat starts getting older. This will help you provide better care to your pet cat if it is suffering from this degenerative disease.
It is essential for you as a pet owner to look for signs of arthritis at an early stage, especially when your cat starts getting older. This will help you provide better care to your pet cat if it is suffering from this degenerative disease.
Top Five Ways to Improve your Cat’s Life in her Old Age
Trim the diet
Usually obese or over weight cats suffer more severely with arthritis pain. Reducing their weight to normal really helps cut down on medications. It also improves their mobility and reduces the degree of pain that is caused due to heavy weight. Remember, to follow the weight loss regime seriously and take care of the amount of calories you are feeding to your cat. This is important when you are looking to reduce the weight of your cat. For better calorie intake of your pet, consult a vet to get advice about daily calorie intake for your cat’s age and activity.
Good Amount of Exercise
A proper exercise regime helps your cat stay healthy and improve mobility. In older cats, exercise remarkably reduces pain. Proper exercise, which is gentle to aching joints, on a daily basis will help greatly. Outdoor play and low-impact games also helps your cat to reduce weight as well as eliminates the need to give painkillers.
Warm and Soft Bedding
For the ageing joints, your cat needs soft bedding. So, take care that you provide good cushioning. Although, it loves snuggling on soft blankets, it is essential to provide firm bedding underneath because it makes rising easier. Apart from that, check that you place her bed in a warm location in your house. If you have a sun facing window, that would be the best place for her to take a nap.
Make Climbing and Jumping Easier
Aging cats with arthritis face problem of mobility. In order to make their climbing up the stairs or reaching windowsill easier, arrange ramps or cat stairs. This will definitely ease their movement. Either make a ramp using plywood or buy it. Whenever your cat is around, you can put that ramp on.
Medication
To help control pain and inflammation, there are many medications available in the market. Glucosamine, chondroitin, sulfates, MSM, and omega fatty acids are some of them, which help painful joints. For cats with arthritis, it is important to have regular medical checkups. Elderly felines need regular veterinary visits. Moreover, glucosamine for cats is an excellent supplement that invariably supports joints and eases arthritis pain.
These small changes around the home along with proper medications will definitely help your cat, which is suffering from arthritis.