Arthritis in cats: the signs owners miss

By The Animal Physio Co 7 October 2026 5 min read

If your older cat has stopped jumping onto the kitchen counter, sleeps more, or doesn't groom as well as it used to, it's easy to put it down to age. Often, it's arthritis. It's very common in older cats, it's easily missed, and the good news is that there's a lot that can be done once it's recognised.

How common is it?

Much more common than most owners realise:

• In a study of 100 cats aged six and over, 61% had arthritis in at least one joint, and 48% in more than one. The shoulders, elbows, hips and hocks were most often affected.¹
• In cats over 12, 90% showed signs of joint disease on X-rays.⁷
• The risk keeps rising with every year of age.⁸

Why it's so easily missed

Cats are experts at hiding discomfort, and the changes come on gradually, so owners tend to put them down to "just getting old".⁹ Most arthritic cats don't limp: in one study, the most common signs were changes in how often cats jumped (71%) and how high (67%).²

That's why you're the best person to spot it. Veterinary guidelines note that many of the important signs of long-term pain in cats are "most detectable in the home".⁵ In one study, owners' observations alone led to the diagnosis in 30% of cases, and their reports combined with the vet's examination or X-rays in 64%.³

Signs to look for

• Jumping up or down less often, or not as high²
• Hesitating at, or struggling with, stairs³
• Running, playing and chasing toys less¹⁰
• Grooming less, so the coat looks scruffy or matted^1,4
• Being less active than usual⁴
• Toileting outside the litter tray¹
• Changes in temperament, such as being less keen to be stroked, or grumpier than usual^4,11

None of these on its own proves your cat has arthritis, but any of them is worth mentioning to your vet.

A six-question home check

Researchers developed a simple checklist for owners.¹⁰ Ask yourself whether your cat can do each of these normally:

1. Run
2. Jump up
3. Jump down
4. Climb up stairs
5. Go down stairs
6. Chase moving objects

If the answer to any of them is "no", book a check with your vet. Knowing what to look for makes a big difference: when owners understood the signs of arthritis, the checklist picked up 99% of cats with arthritis pain.¹⁰

It's very treatable

Once arthritis is recognised, cats can feel much better.

• In a study of 23 arthritic cats, owners saw improvements in mobility, activity, grooming and temperament within four weeks of their cats starting pain relief, with the biggest change in activity.⁴
• In another study, 61% of owners saw a marked improvement once their cat had pain relief.²

Your vet will advise on medication. International feline guidelines state that two anti-inflammatory drugs for cats, meloxicam and robenacoxib, have "strong evidence of safety and efficacy" for arthritis pain, including in many cats with stable, early kidney disease,¹² and, where available, newer options include a monthly injection that targets pain signalling.¹³ Omega-3 fish oil may help too: in a small trial, owners reported less stiffness and higher jumping while their cats were on fish oil.¹⁴ You can read more in our article on omega-3 for dogs and cats.

Simple home changes that help

The guidelines recommend:^5,12

• Ramps, steps or furniture to help your cat reach favourite high spots. Cats need access to height to feel safe.
• A litter tray with at least one low side
• Rugs or runners on slippery floors
• Food and water bowls raised off the floor
• Warm, padded beds in quiet spots
• Scratching posts both upright and flat, and checking nails more often
• Gentle grooming help if your cat struggles to reach its back and sides

Keeping food, water and the litter tray a manageable distance from resting spots can also encourage a sore cat to keep moving.⁵

Gentle activity, weight and physiotherapy

Staying active matters for arthritic cats. The AAHA pain-management guidelines list encouraging activity, home changes, weight management and omega-3s among the first-line, non-drug treatments for cats with long-term pain, and recommend rehabilitation as part of a comprehensive plan.⁵ International feline guidelines also recommend managing long-term pain with a combination of approaches, including home changes and treatments such as laser therapy and physical therapy.¹²

A 2025 review of physical rehabilitation for cats concluded that "cats can benefit just as much as dogs", with programmes built around gentle massage, stretching, joint movement and short, rewarding exercises.^15,16 Cats do best when exercises are linked to hunting, playing or feeding,¹⁷ so sessions look a lot like play.

Weight matters too. In a study of almost 800 cats, being overweight at six years old was linked to mobility problems,¹⁸ and in another, overweight and obese cats were several times more likely to need veterinary care for lameness.¹⁹

Why home visits suit cats

Most cats hate the car and the clinic. Veterinary guidelines note that while laser therapy "may be a tolerable and effective form of therapy", the need for repeated trips to the clinic can limit how well it works for many cats.⁵ Because we're mobile, we treat your cat at home, where it's relaxed and we can see exactly how it moves around its own space.

A visit with us includes:

• An assessment of how your cat moves at home, including jumps, stairs and favourite spots
• Gentle hands-on therapy and laser where it's likely to help
• Play-based exercises you can continue between visits
• Practical advice on adapting your home
• Working with your vet on pain relief and weight

If your cat is slowing down, jumping less or just not itself, book a home visit. We cover the Overberg, Somerset West and Stellenbosch.

This article is general information, not veterinary advice. Speak to your vet before starting any supplement or treatment, and ask a qualified animal physiotherapist to assess your animal individually.