Stiff and sore?

Sixteen year old Harry is having trouble jumping up on the table this winter. He circles it quite a few times before making the leap. His family also noticed that he is sleeping a lot more this winter and is reluctant to move when he first wakes up.

Cats don’t usually limp unless their arthritis is severe. Their elbows, knees and backs are the most common sites for arthritis.

Harry’s older brother Cino hesitates to jump down off the bed. He has also been toileting around the litter box instead of in it lately. His elbows were thickened and painful when he came to visit last week and Dr Kate found that his lower back was acutely painful. Harry’s knees were his problem.

We’ve found a litter box with lower sides for Cino and have put a footrest near Harry’s favourite perch to make access easier. Both Harry and Cino are trialing some arthritis meds and fish oil. Already their family has noticed that they are more mobile and interested in cuddles and household doings.