Not only are pet parents aging, but our cats are aging as well. With medical breakthroughs happening every day, our furry friends are living longer than ever before. Cats are living past their projected life expectancies, and therefore are subjected to age-related illnesses. Arthritis, particularly osteoarthritis, is a frequent diagnosis among cats. However, new studies show that a majority of cat owners are either unaware of the warning signs or symptoms of osteoarthritis in cats, or they misperceive the signs and believe their cat is just being “moody” or “finicky.”
A study by OnePoll, performed for cat pain awareness, surveyed 3,000 cat owners. The results showed that cat owners really loved their pets and considered them an integral part of the family, stating that their cat is “like a child to them.” They would not knowingly let their cat live in discomfort or pain. It became evident in the study that many cat owners do not know the signs of arthritis in cats, or they were unable to view them. Cats are increasingly good at hiding their symptoms. It is an innate ability to ward off danger and to protect themselves from harm. The survey revealed that when the owners were shown a list of the most common signals of osteoarthritis in cats, 65% of the owners had actually witnessed at least one of the warning signs. Many pet owners believe the signs of osteoarthritis are just signs of their cat getting older.
Here is a list of the most common symptoms of osteoarthritis in cats:
- Becoming withdrawn from you and other family members
- Decreased activity level
- Inability to groom themselves properly
- Sleeping more, or anxiousness and restlessness
- Difficulty accessing the litter box
- Decreased appetite
- Inability to get comfortable
- Resistance to jumping up
- Seem to be in pain when handled
