Talk to me about arthritic cats please

[Polter]

Sorry in advance, this is ridiculously long but I need to get it all out.

Just over a week ago 15yo PolterCat came in unable to weight bear on his back legs, which looked wonky, and he was clearly in pain, no signs of RTA, but very reminiscent of cats who've broken their hip/pelvis. Emergency trip to vets who found 'thickening' in both back knees and suspected arthritis which he'd exacerbated with a fall/jump/fight. Given Loxicom jab and a weeks worth to give at home. He was much better the next day and by day 4 he was darting up the stairs as usual.

Saw vet on day 4 who seemed surprised and pleased how much better he was, vet did a more thorough exam now pain was gone and is pretty sure it's arthritis and PolterCat might need med's long term, but to see how he goes.

We've kept him in all week, he has access to a walled courtyard for basking and he seems happy enough. He'd never lived in a house until we got him from rescue 6 years ago and has always had free access to outside, but we plan now to keep him in at night and see how he goes in the daytime. He's popped out for a poo but seems to have decided that he prefers the litter tray for wees.

Vet mentioned x-rays, but seemed quite pragmatic, I'm not sure I'd want to risk a GA at the moment when PolterCat seems fine, and I'm not sure it would make any difference to treatment if arthritis/dodgy bones/joints was confirmed.

Would love to hear how others have dealt with similar. I don't want to be over-protective, but I also don't want to risk further injuries.

Obligatory photo

If he reacted well to the meloxicam jab, .I'd speak to the vet and have him put on it permanently. My old Seniorboy had increasingly bad arthritis and was on daily meloxicam with his food. (You just mix it into wet food.) He also had lactulose which is a stool softener. In his very late years, he had to go onto additional supplementary pain meds but the basic meloxicam eased his old bones tremendously. The vet will likely want to do bloods to check his kidney function is OK before prescribing.

Heat as well. Look out for some sort of heat source for him to lie on. That makes one heck of a difference.

Jay cat was on metacalm for a few years then she had renal failure so had periodic injections last 2 years of her life she seemed happy enough just she couldn't jump up we put her bed near a radiator she lived till she was 19

Thanks cozie, I was hoping to catch your eye.

He's back at the vets in 2 weeks so I'll see how he goes without the med's but pop back in if need be, the vet is happy to prescribe more if he needs it. It's good to hear Seniorboy tolerated it well and for a long time. Annoyingly, he's a bit funny with heat, he'll bask half in the sun and then come in and flop on a tiled floor. He's currently outside in the shade on concrete

Was Seniorboy an indoor only cat?

Thanks MrsJayy too. I guess this is the result of cats living much longer these days, I don't remember any of my childhood cats getting arthritis, and LastCat was very agile right to the end at 17yo.

Yes. Seniorboy was an indoor only cat. He lived until over 22 and was on Meloxicam for the last 5 or 6 years of his life.

I don't have much helpful to add except to say what a beautiful cat, and based on my human experience of arthritis (not me, someone close) losing weight helped. I don't know if your lovely cat is overweight but if he is a diet might help?

He was weighed Puff and vet was happy with his weight, he's a big cat and we've got him down from 7.4kg when we got him to 6.6kg now.

It's so difficult cozie working out what to do for the best, I think he'd be fine indoors and with the courtyard but he does have his favourite spots in the garden and goes visiting neighbours for a fuss (and to steal food!).

He does look particularly portly in that picture

Polter cat is gorgeous and he does look distinctly cuddly in that picture.

He does have a bit of a waist!

He's got a thick dense squishy coat but sadly he's not cuddly at all.

He's gorgeous anyway, even if cuddles are not on the agenda :).

I think you're probably right to try keeping him in at night - see how it goes. When The Lodger came to us, I kept him in and he adjusted very easily. Your boy using the tray for peeing sounds as if he really prefers it that way.

(Inclement weather coming on may also help to make up his mind for him. )

I think that's the best plan for now too, I thought he'd be a pain at night but he seems to sleep straight through with a sofa all to himself, which I guess is another sign of him slowing down. Today he's mostly insisted the back door be open at all times 'just in case' he deigns to go out.

This is an old thread but you might find it interesting - particularly the posts from Lone.

arthritis in cats

Sorry. I should also have posted this ICC guidance for you. It would be as well to read up before you speak to the vet again.

Arthritis in cats

They were really helpful links, thanks cozie

Interestingly, he doesn't seem to have been showing any of the symptoms in the lists until this accident. He's been jumping, hunting (he flew through the air to catch an errant bird that got in the house a few weeks ago), running and playing, so I'm feeling less guilty that I could have missed him being in pain.

Maybe something happened to him to bring it on quickly, 'if' ha has it. (And that's still an 'if', really.)

You noticed his problem now and vetted him directly. That's what matters.

My long haired boy was dragging his hind legs and couldn't weight bear or walk. Looked like an expensive op was the way forward, until Intook him to a vet who does osteopath stuff for animals. He tweaked his back, and put some vertebrae back in place, then did acupuncture on the tip of his tail and his paws, and we have had no problems since. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it. €30 as opposed to €4k for the open seemed a bargain!!!

Thanks cozie, the vet could feel it in his knees and there aren't any other signs which would suggest something else is wrong.

Thanks scary, that sounds quite different to what PolterCat is experiencing, but I think at his age we are looking at alleviating discomfort rather than costly operations anyway.

Seniorboy's vet was very strong for older animals and was already clued up on arthritis issues. She just listened to my description of his behaviour and said something like 'Hmmm - likely arthritis'. (He'd already had recent bloods tested so she just prescribed. One happier boy. )

How is he doing this week?

He seems fine, but not very interested in going in the garden so perhaps he's pacing himself. I've got him some green lipped mussel powder as it was recommended on the thread you linked so hopefully that will help, and he's back at the vets 2 weeks today.

And thank you for asking

How's Newboy?

If he's maybe a little sore, he might well be pacing himself. Unfortunately, once arthritis arrives, I don't think there's any 'fix'. Just ongoing treatment. As long as he has good quality of life though?

Newboy is in his 'tent'. I've just given him some treats.

(And put on the heating to come on later but we don't talk about that. It's just a pre-service test. )