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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

Arthritic cats -an alternative remedy

40 replies

TamzinGrey · 22/03/2014 00:06

Has anyone else here tried green lipped mussel tablets? After two months use the change in our old girl is amazing. She's leaping onto furniture like a cat half her age now, having struggled before, and I watched her jump over a plant in the garden today like a young gazelle (well that might be a bit of an exaggeration but I was very proud of her).

Here's a link if anyone is interested www.ace-canine.com/shop_flex_cats.html

OP posts:

Original poster

TamzinGrey · 29/03/2014 23:57

How's it going Cozie? Is Seniorboy still eating the sprinkle?

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 30/03/2014 00:02

He is indeed - it takes most of the night to finish his plate but I expected that.

He also gave a big leap onto the bed this morning (after gaining speed all the way from the windows in the room opposite - like a plane revving up to take off) which I haven't seen for some months. It's too early for any effects, though, so I guess he's just having a good weekend.

cozietoesie · 30/03/2014 00:22

And he's just done a humungous poo - which is good news because pooing is one of his problems with weakened and painful back legs and lower back.

Original poster

TamzinGrey · 30/03/2014 10:51

Wonderful news.

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cozietoesie · 01/04/2014 09:39

Well he's definitely perkier already - just done two big leaps on to the bed. It may be like the last guttering of a torch but it's still most welcome (because it shows he's happier) and there's no gainsaying that he's now been on the sprinkle for coming up to a week.

I think I'll actually buy some.

cozietoesie · 02/04/2014 19:31

Another massive poo this morning - good news because for many months he hasn't usually been able to muster the physical effort to do other than lots of little poos. And the sprinkle is being eaten up quite the thing with his food.

I shall buy some tomorrow.

Original poster

TamzinGrey · 02/04/2014 21:08

Oh Cozie - I'm really glad that your old boy is doing so well. He's been eating the sprinkles for a week now, so maybe the effects could have kicked in already. In any event, he obviously likes the taste and they certainly won't be doing him any harm.

My old lady has still got a spring in her step, although she did look a bit stiffer than usual coming down the stairs just now. A huge stretch seems to have sorted her out though, and she's now managed an elegant leap onto the armchair.

Aw- don't we just love our oldies.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 02/04/2014 21:12

Well my aim, as always, is to give him a few happy sunset months. I'm under no illusion that it will prolong his life (which is already very long) but if it makes it better than it might otherwise have been? That's all I would ask.

DramaAlpaca · 14/04/2014 12:17

I've finally got round to ordering some of this for my arthritic old boy. He's on a daily dose of Metacam now & that has definitely improved his mobility, but I'd prefer to give him something more natural. I will report back.

cozietoesie · 14/04/2014 15:23

I've bought some now. Seniorboy has, I think, changed a bit since he's been on it. There's no question he's still an old cat but he seems generally perkier and has tried a few jumps which he wouldn't have essayed a few months back - so I reckon he's a bit easier physically.

(The jumps haven't always been entirely successful but Hey Ho. His muscle tone may still not be great.)

DramaAlpaca · 14/04/2014 15:25

That's great to hear cozie.

cozietoesie · 14/04/2014 15:27

PS - he was on a NSAID as well and is still on it. There's apparently no conflict and maybe even some thought that the mussel extract might protect kidneys to a degree. (Don't rely on that latter though - it's just something I came across and has little clinical backing that I could find on a quick scoot.)

DramaAlpaca · 14/04/2014 15:49

That's interesting. I have noticed a difference since he was on Metacam. He finds it easier to climb onto things and is less likely to ask to be lifted if he wants to get onto his favourite chair. If he likes the mussel extract I'll give him both.

It's such a shame he has arthritis really, he's not even 13 yet. We got him as a kitten when some scumbag literally dumped him in my neighbour's garden. The vet estimated he was only about 7 weeks old - not even old enough to leave his mum . He'd almost certainly missed out on the handling young kittens need to be truly sociable and has never been the friendliest of cats as a result, but we love him & in his own way he loves us. Won't tolerate anyone but me & the boys, and avoids visitors. He & DH (who is emphatically a dog person) keep a polite distance .

cozietoesie · 14/04/2014 16:24

Seniorboy is 19 so is doing well for a little Siamese. (Well actually, he's doing well for any cat.) He's pretty well been living on borrowed time for half of his life so I suppose a bit of arthritis could have been a whole load worse over the years.

Dramacat was dumped alone in a garden? People can be such utter stinkers sometimes.

DramaAlpaca · 14/04/2014 16:52

I love Siamese, but orientals make DH sneeze or so he tells me

Yes, DramaCat1 was dumped. Horrific, isn't it? It's sadly not unusual here. It was only by a stroke of luck that our neighbour found him. They weren't cat people, so they brought him to me & I was happy to step in & give him a home

DramaCat2, on the other hand, came from a loving home & was well handled from early kittenhood. You can see the difference.

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