Cat arthritis

[BWatchWatcher]

Hello!
My poor ten year cat was diagnosed with arthritis this time last year. Vet supplied him with metacam which after 6 weeks gave him some relief.
When the weather got nice we were able to lessen the metacam and he was very content.
Now the weather is bad again, he is suffering, back on the metacam and very angry.
I've tried the joint care sprinkle and he ignore his soft food when it's added.
I've ordered a heat pad.
Anything else we can try to bring him some comfort?

[BWatchWatcher]

Oh and not worms as he was treated the other week!

[BWatchWatcher]

Poor cat is getting worse.
He is becoming increasingly angry if you touch his lower back. Hissing. Weird postures being adopted during grooming.
We're beginning to question whether he is actually over eating as his tummy is quite swollen. Someone asked if he was pregnant the other day :(
He is off to the vet on the 1st of November.
He is only 10 but his body seems to be letting him down!

[cozietoesie]

Heat is a must for sore bones, I’ve found. Let us know how the pad suits?

[BWatchWatcher]

I've bought a 'self heating' pad that had good reviews on amazon.
My poor cat seeks out laps and then refuses to get off. Like a salamander he craves the warmth!

[cozietoesie]

Seniorboy used to use an electric blanket in the bed and The Lodger was usually to be found in the airing cupboard. (Built in front of the central heating/water boiler so consistently cosy.) I know that someone on the board had great success with a ‘whelping pad’ but, sadly, Newboy has totally ignored - as far as I know - the electric heating pad which the postie brought him. (Although he’s a young cat so I was just preparing for winter.) I’d be interested to hear of other stories.

[scaryteacher]

Are then any particularly good/recommended heat pads?

[villainousbroodmare]

Ask your vet about Cartrophen injections. Can be very helpful.

[Wolfiefan]

My old girl couldn't tolerate metacam. (Stomach issues). She was on tramadol. Great results.
Heat pad also awesome.

[Toddlerteaplease]

A cat I knew used to have acupuncture and physio for his arthritis in his back legs. Apparently he was pretty cooperative until
He got bored.

[Weedsnseeds1]

I found a supplement called Seraquin useful for my old girl, it seemed quite paletable and she would eat the tablets like treats.

[cozietoesie]

If he has it at 10, it may be quite bad. (My own old boy was very old and it sort of went with the territory.) Lots of heat for him.

[BWatchWatcher]

Thanks very much everyone!
I'll take a look and see what practical things we can do to help. I hadn't thought about raising his food bowl, but will look into it.
I'll also speak to the vet if he doesn't perk up a bit. He bit me quite hard the other day and all I did was stroke him on his back. Poor thing must be very sore :(

[cozietoesie]

PS - have a read of the section on ‘Environmental Enrichment’ in this piece by the ICC.

[cozietoesie]

Poor lad. Lots of practical things - as the previous poster said - and maybe talk to the vet if the metacam is already not cutting it. There are supplemental pain meds which can be tried.

[jaspercat2002]

Poor boy It's hard to watch them struggling.

With our old arthritic cat we used metacam like you – couldn't get him to take the supplement.

Otherwise it was just little practical things we could do to try and help. We did find having a raised food bowl helped him to eat more comfortably. I started out just putting his normal bowl on top of of a small box but as it did really help I bought him a proper raised bowl. Also making sure he could still get to his favourite places easily so I had a little step next to our bed to help him get up and down.