Affected cats usually develop diabetes mellitus, but some also develop secondary arthritis in their joints.Ĭats are masters of hiding discomfort and pain, so often do not demonstrate obvious signs that you might expect. Acromegaly – this is an unusual condition of older cats where a tumour in the pituitary gland secretes too much growth hormone.Obesity – there is no evidence that this causes arthritis, but it is likely to make an existing condition worse.These may cause abnormal joint conformation which can result in secondary osteoarthritis Injury or trauma – for examples fractures, dislocations and other joint injuries.Scottish Folds are particularly prone to severe arthritis affecting multiple joints due to an abnormality of cartilage that occurs in the breed.Patella luxation (dislocation of the kneecap) which has been reported more commonly in Abyssinian and Devon Rex cats.Hip dysplasia (abnormal development of the hip joints) seen especially in Maine Coon cats (but also Persians, Siamese and other breeds).Genetics – certain breeds have an increased risk due to various underlying joint problems.Some factors may increase the risk of arthritis in cats: At present, most cats with arthritis do not appear to have an obvious predisposing cause. Further studies are needed to determine if this is similar to OA in humans, where mechanical damage to the joints may be pivotal in the development of the disease, or whether other factors are involved. The other major form of arthritis seen in humans is rheumatoid arthritis, which is (at least in part) an auto-immune disease.Īt present, it is not entirely clear what causes arthritis in cats. OA can be primary (without an obvious underlying cause, where the disease may arise at least in part due to mechanical ‘wear and tear’ in the joints) or secondary to a joint injury or abnormality as described below. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a complicated type of arthritis in which the normal cartilage that cushions the joint degenerates and is worn away, resulting in inflammation, discomfort, ongoing damage and secondary changes in and around the joint. All these studies show that arthritis is actually very common in cats, that it is much more common (and more severe) in older cats, and that the shoulders, hips, elbows, knees (stifles) and ankles (tarsi) are the most commonly affected joints. More recent studies have shown radiographic evidence of arthritis in the limb joints affecting between 60% and more than 90% of cats. However, even when these cases were excluded, around ⅔ of the cats still had radiographic signs of arthritis affecting the limb joints. This included cats with so-called ‘spondylosis’ of the spine (a form of degenerative joint disease). In one study published in 2002, 90% of cats over 12 years of age had evidence of degenerative joint disease. However, recent studies looking at radiographs of older cats produced startling results. Prevalence of arthritis in catsĭue to the challenges of diagnosing arthritis in cats, it can be difficult to tell how many cats are affected. This may be due in part to the cats’ survival instinct to hide signs of pain, and the lack of recognition of the condition by owners and veterinary surgeons. However, until relatively recently, arthritis in cats was not commonly diagnosed or treated. It is well recognised that as humans get older they are likely to suffer from joint pain caused by osteoarthritis. It is also well known that older dogs commonly suffer from arthritis and both owners and vets are familiar with the medication dispensed to relieve their pain.
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