arthritis

First Ever Feline-Specific Pain Medication Is A Game Changer for Cats

Feline Health| 10 Comments

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Guest post by Ingrid R Niesman, MS PhD

While we don’t really know the extent of pain cats actually experience, we do know that they are masters at masking their discomfort, leaving cat parents guessing. This is especially true with arthritis pain. Just like humans, cats’ joints take a lifetime of abuse and display similar arthritic tendencies with age. Humans can avoid suffering with medications and joint replacements. Our cats with chronic osteoarthritis (OA) or degenerative joint disease (DJD) have fewer options.Continue Reading

FDA Approves First Ever Arthritis Pain Management Treatment for Cats

Feline Health| 5 Comments

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Arthritis is one of the most prevalent conditions in cats, affecting as many as 45% of all cats, and 90% of cats older than 12. Osteoarthritis is often not diagnosed in cats because it is so difficult to recognize. The signs can be subtle and it often remains untreated, even though the pain can be debilitating.Continue Reading

These Websites Can Help You Determine Whether Your Cat is in Pain

Feline Health| 2 Comments

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Cats are masters at masking pain. Their ability to hide pain goes back to their wild origins. In the wild, a sick animal becomes prey. While acute pain may be more obvious, chronic pain from conditions such as arthritis can be challenging to discern for even the most dedicated cat parent. Even veterinarians often overlook signs of feline pain.Continue Reading

How to Recognize and Treat Arthritis in Your Cat

Feline Health| 18 Comments

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This post contains affiliate links*

Arthritis, a condition that affects as many as 1 in 3 adult humans, also affects cats. Feline arthritis is a degenerative joint disease. The cartilage within the joint is worn down, leading to inflammation, pain and decreased quality of life. As the condition progresses, the friction can wear down to the point where it damages the bones themselves. This kind of arthritis is most common and causes the most pain in the weight-bearing joints like the shoulders, hips, elbows, knees, and ankles.Continue Reading

Litter Box Solutions for Senior Cats

Feline Health, Products| 88 Comments

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This post contains affiliate links*

We previously featured high-sided litter boxes to help you contain the mess inside the box rather than all around the box. Even though all of these boxes have lower entrance areas, they may still be too high for senior cats, especially cats with arthritis.

Arthritis is a common condition that affects as many as 3 in 10 cats. It is often not diagnosed in cats because it is difficult to recognize even for the most dedicated cat guardian. The signs can be subtle, and since cats are such masters at masking pain, it often remains untreated. Only 7% of cats with arthritis receive treatment.Continue Reading

Natural Remedies for Arthritic Cats

Feline Health| 5 Comments

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Arthritis is a degenerative joint disease. The cartilage within the joint is worn down, leading to inflammation, pain and decreased quality of life. As the condition progresses, the friction can wear down to the point where it damages the bones themselves. Osteoarthritis is often not diagnosed in cats because it is difficult to recognize even for the most dedicated cat parent. The signs can be subtle, and since cats are such masters at masking pain, it often remains untreated. As many as 3 in 10 cats suffer from this debilitating condition, but only 7% of cats with arthritis receive treatment.Continue Reading

Interview with Dr. Elizabeth Colleran: How to Recognize and Treat Feline Arthritis

Feline Health| 9 Comments

assisi-loop

This post is sponsored by Assisi Animal Health

Arthritis, a condition that affects as many as 1 in 3 adults, also affects cats. Feline arthritis is a degenerative joint disease. The cartilage within the joint is worn down, leading to inflammation, pain and decreased quality of life. As the condition progresses, the friction can wear down to the point where it damages the bones themselves. This kind of arthritis is most common and causes the most pain in the weight-bearing joints like the shoulders, hips, elbows, knees, and ankles.Continue Reading

How the Assisi Loop Lounge Helps 18-Year-Old Kitty Girl with Arthritis and Kidney Disease

Feline Health| 7 Comments

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This post is sponsored by Assisi Animal Health

When my dear friend Rita and her husband Rob came across a six-month old kitten who had just given birth in an Oklahoma City parking garage, they were not looking for another pet. After taking her to a vet to get her taken care of, they planned to find a good home for her. They named her Kitty Girl because they didn’t want to become too attached. However, as many of us know, the best laid plans don’t always pan out when it comes to cats. Kitty Girl fell in love with Rob. 18 years later, he is still her one and only love. For more about Kitty Girls history, read When You Get the Cat You Need, Not the Cat You Want, in Rita’s own words.Continue Reading

Daisy and Pam: How the Assisi Loop is Helping an 18-year-old Cat with Severe Arthritis

Feline Health| 2 Comments

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This post is sponsored by Assisi Animal Health*

We previously featured 18-year-old Daisy, who belongs to Pam Wheelock and her family. Pam is the founder of Purrfectplay. Five years ago, Daisy started having difficulty urinating and defecating. She was diagnosed with severe hip arthritis and spinal stenosis (a narrowing of the open spaces within the spine, which can put pressure on the spinal cord and the nerves that travel through the spine.) Daisy’s spinal nerve impingement causes her to retain urine and bowel material. When there is a big enough volume, the “stretch reflex” allows her to empty her bladder/bowel. “Daisy had no idea when this might happen,” says Pam. “It used to happen even when she was sleeping.”Continue Reading

How the Assisi Loop Helps Cats With Arthritis

Feline Health| 8 Comments

assisi-loop

This post is sponsored by Assisi Animal Health

When your cat is sick or in pain, there’s probably nothing you wouldn’t try to get him or her to stop hurting. Unfortunately, treating pain in cats is often challenging. For starters, cats are masters at masking pain. Then, once pain is diagnosed, there are very few medications that are approved for long-term use in cats that don’t also carry some serious risks.

As an alternative to pharmaceuticals, many cat owners have turned to non-drug modalities like Reiki and acupuncture.  Another therapy that is garnering more widespread use is targeted pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (tPEMF™). This therapy can benefits cats with pain associated with arthritis, pancreatitis, wounds, or post-surgical swelling as well as many inflammatory conditions.Continue Reading

New Zealand’s Best: Help Your Cat Feel Young Again

Products| 9 Comments

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This post is sponsored by New Zealand’s Best*

You may be surprised to know that 61% of cats over the age of 6 suffer from arthritis. As cats age, this number is even higher: 90% of cats over the age of 12 have some form of arthritis. Since cats spend a lot of their time jumping and climbing, their joints, especially weight-baring joints like the shoulders, hips, elbows, knees and ankles, are repeatedly absorbing a lot of impact, and this can lead to joint damage – particularly in larger cats or overweight cats. Continue Reading