Arthritis in Cats: The Hidden Signs, and the Home Changes That Help (UK Guide)

Short answer: Cats with arthritis rarely limp. Watch instead for quieter changes: hesitating before jumps, sleeping in lower places, a scruffy coat along the back, overgrown claws, missing the litter tray, and grumpiness when picked up. Cats Protection says around 90% of cats over 12 show some degree of arthritis on X-ray, so an older cat who is "slowing down" is worth a vet check. Pain relief is the vet's job; at home, a low-sided tray, steps, rugs and a warm bed she can reach all help.

It creeps up. One year your cat takes the bed in a single leap. A few months later she waits at the foot of it, looks up, and chooses the floor instead. The coat down her spine goes a bit dull. She's short with you when you lift her. None of it looks like illness, which is the whole problem.

Why arthritis in cats is so easy to miss

International Cat Care describes arthritis (osteoarthritis, or OA) as "a very common condition in cats", one that is "very common in older cats, but may not be diagnosed". Common, and missed.

Why missed? Because of how cats behave when something hurts. "Cats are masters of hiding discomfort and pain," International Cat Care says, "so often won't show the obvious signs you might expect." Instead of favouring a sore leg, "they restrict their activity to stop them having to use their sore joints". The cat doesn't limp across the room. The cat stops crossing the room.

Cats Protection draws the comparison directly: "Unlike dogs, they're unlikely to alert their owners to a problem by limping or becoming lame." Obvious lameness does sometimes appear, International Cat Care notes, and PDSA treats a sudden limp as an emergency (see the callout further down).

Cats Protection says around 90% of cats over 12 show some degree of arthritis on X-ray, and PDSA cites the same figure from a scientific study. That is what X-rays show, which is a different thing from nine in ten older cats visibly suffering. It does mean an older cat who seems lazier than last year has earned a proper look.

What causes it

Age is a major factor: International Cat Care says arthritis is "much more common (and severe) in older cats", and an old injury can lead to what it calls secondary osteoarthritis in the damaged joint.

Obesity is subtler. There's "no evidence that this causes arthritis", the charity says, but extra weight is "likely to make an existing condition worse". Certain breeds carry a higher risk; your vet will know whether yours is one.

Signs of arthritis in cats: what to watch for over a week

A single sign on a single day tells you very little. An older cat sleeps more anyway. So instead of asking "does my cat have arthritis?", ask a narrower question over one normal week, with no visitors or building work: what does she do less than she used to, and what has she stopped doing altogether? Keep a note on your phone.

Then film two or three things. International Cat Care's advice is specific: "try to video the cat (eg, going up stairs, jumping down from a chair) to show your vet", since "cats may not show many signs in the veterinary clinic".

Any one of these is a reason to book a check, more so if several appear together or one is new in the last few months. Some can point to other conditions entirely, as the next section explains.

Don't wait for a limp: International Cat Care says to contact your vet if your cat shows any signs of arthritis: "Even subtle changes can be important."

Not just old age: other reasons an older cat slows down

"It's just her age" is an easy assumption, and it can be wrong. Cats Protection's elderly-cat guidance puts it plainly: "Some of the signs above may be part of ageing, and others could be signs of a health concern." Several conditions common in older cats cause similar quiet changes, and a vet examination is how they're told apart.

Take weight loss, which can sit alongside a scruffier coat and less activity. Cats Protection says it "could be a sign of hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, diabetes, or dental disease".

A change in grooming, the same page notes, "may be a sign of pain associated with the joints or with the mouth". If she has also gone off her biscuits, our dog and cat dental care guide covers the mouth-pain signs to mention at the appointment.

Stiffness has its own causes. PDSA's guidance on limping and stiffness in cats is blunt about what those changes mean: "your cat is in pain/discomfort". Arthritis is on its list ("more common in older cats, a very manageable condition that shouldn't be ignored"), alongside:

• a cat bite abscess

• a claw injury

• a sprain

• something stuck in the foot, such as a grass seed or a piece of glass

A cat that came home from a fight and a cat with arthritic hips can look much the same from the kitchen doorway.

Call your vet straight away: PDSA: "Contact your vet immediately for an emergency appointment if your cat develops a sudden limp, can't put weight on a leg or is in severe pain." A slow change over months is a routine appointment. A limp that wasn't there this morning isn't.

What the vet will do, and how arthritis in cats is treated

The visit usually runs like this:

1. They'll ask what you've seen. Your week of notes and the videos earn their keep here.

2. They'll watch your cat move and feel the joints. PDSA describes it as "watch them move, feel their joints".

3. X-rays sometimes, not always. Cats Protection says the vet may take X-rays, while PDSA notes "it's not always necessary to take X-rays to diagnose arthritis".

4. A trial of pain relief if the vet is suspicious. PDSA: "if your vet is suspicious they might trial some medication to see if it helps."

5. Possibly a questionnaire. International Cat Care says your veterinary team may ask you to fill in a mobility questionnaire before and after treatment, to track the effect.

Treatment: what the vet may offer

Treatment is your vet's call. International Cat Care says "the most commonly used drugs for managing arthritic pain are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)"; Cats Protection describes "a long-term anti-inflammatory medication, which can be given in liquid or tablet form".

Never give human painkillers: Cats Protection is blunt: "Never give your cat human anti-inflammatory medication, even common ones such as ibuprofen. These can be highly toxic to cats and even fatal." PDSA warns that paracetamol is "highly toxic to cats" too.

More recently, Cats Protection notes, "a monthly injection of a 'monoclonal antibody' has become available for cats". Whether it suits your cat is a question for your vet.

Weight matters too. "It's important to keep your cat at their ideal weight, as obesity places extra strain on sore joints," International Cat Care says, and Cats Protection calls a healthy weight "one of the most important ways to help a cat with arthritis". Ask your vet for a weight plan before you change what goes in the bowl.

Supplements are a separate question: Cats Protection says there is "limited scientific evidence about how effective joint supplements are in treating arthritis", and that they "should only be given following the advice of your vet". Our joint supplements guide covers what the research does and doesn't show. International Cat Care also mentions acupuncture as something that may be useful as part of a management plan, performed only by a specially trained vet.

And if the first thing tried doesn't help? PDSA: "There may be more than one treatment option, so if one doesn't work, your vet may be able to offer another."

How to help a cat with arthritis at home: room by room

Medication is the vet's half. This is yours.

Litter tray

Start here. International Cat Care's rule: "Always have a litter tray inside and make sure it has at least one low side for easy access." Cats Protection's winter blog agrees on lower sides, and elsewhere on the same page suggests a tray "somewhere private (one per cat), that way your cat won't have to head outside to go to the toilet".

The litter matters too. "Use soft, sandy litter that is comfortable to stand on," International Cat Care says. Thinking of an automated unit? Check its entry height against that low-side rule; our self-cleaning litter box guide notes an elderly cat may not suit one at all.

Food and water

"Make sure food and water are easy to reach, at floor level or with steps up to higher levels," says International Cat Care, adding that raised bowls can help "so they don't have to bend down". PDSA lists raised bowls as well.

Cats Protection's elderly-cat page adds the detail that's easy to get wrong: "Ensure the rim of the bowl isn't too high." A deep bowl on a tall stand is a stretch for a sore neck.

International Cat Care also says your cat shouldn't have to go up or down stairs to reach food, water or a litter tray. If she uses more than one floor, our suggestion is a water bowl on each, and a tray on the floor where she spends her day.

Beds and sleeping spots

International Cat Care asks for soft, comfortable beds in easy-to-access, quiet spots free of draughts; Cats Protection's winter list says "cosy well-padded beds in safe and warm places". Igloo beds, International Cat Care adds, can make an older cat feel warm and secure.

Heated beds are on PDSA's list. If you use any heat source, our suggestion is to keep it covered and make sure she can move away from it. Warm is no use out of reach, either, so the top of the wardrobe is out.

A thick orthopaedic bed is wasted on a cat that won't use it. Some older cats sleep where they've always slept: the windowsill, the back of the sofa, the airing cupboard. If that's yours, the better buy is a step up to the place she already loves, and a folded blanket once she's there.

Favourite high places

"Provide a series of 'steps' or a ramp to help cats access high-up places," says International Cat Care; Cats Protection suggests "steps up to their resting places, such as beds or sofas, so they don't have to jump".

You can often do this with what you own. A footstool beside the sofa, a sturdy box beside the bed, a low chair beneath the windowsill: the aim is to turn one big jump into two small ones.

The jump down can hurt too. Our suggestion: a cushion or folded blanket below a favourite jump-down spot softens the landing.

Slippery floors

"Place mats around the home to make slippery floors easier to navigate," International Cat Care says. In a UK house that usually means a runner on the laminate in the hall and a rug by the sofa, so there's a grippy route between bed, food and tray.

The cat flap

A stiff cat may stop pushing. International Cat Care's advice is to make sure the flap "is very easy to open, and if necessary, tie it open so your cat doesn't need to push through". Where the flap sits above a drop, a brick or a non-slip mat on the far side gives her a landing step (our suggestion).

Grooming and claws

Cats Protection's elderly-cat page notes "reduced grooming due to arthritis, which can lead to a thin, greasy coat", and that older cats "can have difficulty scratching to keep their claws in good condition".

So you take over. "Spend time grooming and cleaning your cat as they may struggle to do this for themselves," International Cat Care advises, and "trim claws when necessary to prevent them from overgrowing". Our nail clippers vs grinders guide covers how to trim a cat's claws without catching the quick.

Picking her up

Lifting a cat with arthritis "will likely be painful for them", Cats Protection says, so "only pick them up if absolutely necessary". When you must:

• one hand under the chest just behind the front legs, the other behind the back legs

• "keep their spine straight and level"

• move slowly and predictably

• if she growls, struggles or tenses up, put her down carefully as soon as you can

Gentle play

Keep her moving, gently. PDSA says "if they stop moving completely they will become very stiff", and suggests encouraging your cat to move around each day with gentle games. A short wand-toy game at floor level counts.

Arthritis in cats and cold weather: what changes in winter

Cold can make it worse. The RSPCA says: "The cold weather can affect cats with arthritis, making their joints stiff and painful – especially in older cats." Cats Protection lists "a worsening of these signs during cold or damp weather" among the signs of the condition itself.

So if your cat seemed fine through August and has gone quiet and stiff in November, the season may be part of it. It's still a reason to see the vet now.

Draughts and room temperature

Draughts first: a bed that was fine in the hallway in June sits in a cold stream of air in January, so move it, or fit a draught excluder to the door. Then the room she sleeps in. The RSPCA says a cat's winter environment "should be between 10°C and 25°C". A heated living room meets that; an unheated conservatory or porch may not, so move her bed into a heated room for the cold months.

Keeping track, and when to go back to the vet

Arthritis can change over time, so keep your notes going. Our suggestion, built on International Cat Care's video tip: once a month, re-film the same three things you filmed in that first week, and jot down anything new. Your vet then has something to compare.

If a treatment isn't helping, tell your vet. Cats Protection adds that older cats "usually need to be taken to the vet for a health check more often than younger cats".

For anything short of an emergency, PDSA's rule is enough: "You know your cat best, contact your vet if you are concerned."

What arthritis costs, and the insurance catch

PDSA doesn't put a figure on it, but it is direct about the shape of the cost: "Arthritis can be expensive to manage over a lifetime, so it's important to speak to your vet openly about your finances".

Insurance is where timing bites. PDSA's advice is to "consider insuring your cat as soon as you get them, before any signs of illness start". The reason is how insurers treat pre-existing conditions.

PDSA's insurance explainer defines one as "a one-off or long-term illness, injury or symptom your pet is suffering or has suffered from before taking out your new policy", and that "even includes if your pet didn't receive treatment, or you were told it was nothing serious". Cover for existing conditions does exist, PDSA says, but few companies offer it.

Check the wording: If your cat is already slowing down and isn't insured, read a new policy's pre-existing-condition clause before you assume her joints are covered. New to cat ownership? Our first-time pet owner guide covers insurance alongside the other set-up basics.

The bottom line

A cat with arthritis rarely limps; she stops doing things. The vet brings pain relief and a plan. You bring the low-sided tray, the steps and a warm bed she can reach. For dogs and rabbits, see our joint supplements guide (linked above).

How we put this together: based on current guidance from International Cat Care, Cats Protection, PDSA and the RSPCA; our own ideas are labelled as suggestions. We didn't test any product, and nothing here replaces your own vet.