Alternative Arthritis Treatments For Cats

October 29, 2024

Nancy Kerr & Lucy Drury

 

Just like humans, cats can experience arthritis. About 90% of cats over the age of 10 years experience osteoarthritis (OA) in at least one joint.¹ It is a complex condition involving inflammation and degeneration of one or more joints and is sometimes referred to as degenerative joint disease (DJD). Cats with OA experience pain and inflammation in various joints that interfere with daily activities.

Causes of Arthritis

Unfortunately, there is no single cause; many factors can contribute to its development. Among these are: a cat’s skeletal structure, obesity, abnormal joint development, past injuries and orthopedic surgery. Nutritional history can also play a role. While most cats with OA experience a combination of these factors as their OA develops and progresses, just “getting old” is NOT a cause of OA.”¹

Signs of Arthritis

Cats with arthritis will not exhibit the same signs, nor will they exhibit all the signs at the same time. Cats with arthritis don’t usually limp the way people with arthritis do, nor do they vocalize their pain as dog might.²

The most commons signs of arthritis are:

• Difficulty getting up and down
• Walking stiffly. Lameness in one or more legs
• Reluctance to go up or down steps, jump up or down, and/or play
• Stiff, swollen, or sore joints
• Reluctance to be touched on some parts of the body
• Unexpected aggression toward other cats or humans
• Hiding more than usual
• Inappropriate elimination (from pain, or if a cat has difficulty getting in and out of the litter box)
• Poor coat condition (because self-grooming becomes difficult)¹

Even if cats know they are loved, they will still instinctively conceal pain. In the wild, small animals like cats are prey for larger carnivores; concealing pain is a survival instinct. Even as pets, they still instinctively avoid advertising their vulnerabilities.²

Medical Treatments

While there is no current cure, there are newer treatments available that can substantially reduce a cat’s pain, stiffness, and related symptoms. In 2022, Zoetis released Solensia™ (frunevetmab), an injectable monoclonal antibody given once a month by a licensed veterinarian. Solensia™ is the first of this class of therapies approved by the FDA for use in animals. In one three-month study, 77% of owners reported a reduction in their cat’s pain signals. The downside of this therapy, however, is cost.  One injection will cost an average of $100 depending on the cat’s weight, plus any administration/visit costs the vet may charge. There are also some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that can be used short-term, but compared to dogs and humans, there are very few options that can be used on cats in this class safely, particularly long-term.

Non-medical Treatments

If your cat is overweight, reducing its weight is a must. The extra weight slowly wears down the lining around joints, so eventually, bone rubs against bone – an extremely painful condition for any animal.² With the unavoidable reduced mobility, attention to diet is critical, as even a few extra calories can pack on additional pounds.

Glucosamine supplements have helped some cats. Glucosamine is a compound found in cartilage.   When they are young and healthy, animals produce sufficient glucosamine to maintain proper joint mobility. When an animal ages or suffers joint damage (this includes cats, dogs, and humans), glucosamine production may be insufficient to meet their body’s needs. In these cases, dietary glucosamine may help build healthy cartilage.³

A lesser-known option is physical therapy. Animal therapists modify physical therapy techniques used in human medicine to their animal patients. These techniques include but are not limited to: therapeutic lasers, therapeutic exercises, joint mobilization, and hydrotherapy using an underwater treadmill.¹

Hydrotherapy is a general term that covers swimming, walking in water, or walking on a water treadmill.⁴ Most of the animal physical therapy centers are marketed towards dogs, so check with the facilities near you to see if they allow cats if you are interested in this therapy. This video demonstrates what the attempts might look like: https://youtu.be/9esUVxbrhsQ. If your cat enjoys splashing around in tubs or pools, you can try having your cat walk or swim at home in your bathtub if there is not a facility nearby. Water  temperature should be between  82 – 98 degrees Fahrenheit (27.7 – 36.6 Celsius), as warm water is best for therapy.⁴ The following are links to videos on how to get your cat used being the bathtub: https://youtu.be/xqnQFNWoaj4 and https://youtu.be/PV61HN7jAhg.

Acupuncture can also be effective in reducing or eliminating pain from arthritis in cats and dogs^.4 It has also been used on chickens. A typical treatment plan would be one treatment per week for three to six weeks. You should see a response in six weeks.⁴ If there is no positive response by the sixth week, other treatments options should be considered.

Cold Laser Therapy also shows promise in cats as it has in human for reducing pain and inflammation. It is also known as Low Intensity Laser Therapy (LILT), Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), and Infrared Laser Therapy (ILT). Certain wavelengths of infrared light are applied to the painful area. Laser therapy for the treatment of arthritis pain has been studied heavily in humans and has been FDA approved as a treatment option, but as in many therapies for cats, there is very little research on the safety and efficacy of laser therapy. So far, this therapy appears to be as safe for cats as it is for humans.⁴ While there are lasers available for purchase online, it is important to consult with your veterinarian before purchasing one as some can be too strong for cats and could burn the skin.

Assisi’s targeted pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (tPEMF™) devices show great promise in treating the inflammation and pain of arthritis in cats. Available as a “loop” or a full body mat, the tPEMF device stimulates the body’s production of nitric oxide, thus stimulating cellular repair. The Assisi devices use the same technology as FDA-approved medical devices for the treatment of post-operative pain and swelling in humans.⁴ The devices can be purchased for you by your veterinarian, or the consumer can purchase them directly from the manufacturer, Zomedica, or from Chewy.  More information on the different types of devices and treatment protocols can be found at https://assisi.zomedica.com.

Users of the tPEMF™ LOOP lounge report almost immediate signs of relief, and they have no difficulty encouraging their dog or cat to remain on the mat during their therapy time. Many want to lay on the mat even when not turned on, so it must feel really good! The downside of these devices is their cost and limited life span.  The cost range for devices sized for cats is $329 for the Assisi LOOP which has a lifespan of about 150 15-minute treatments, to $949 for the small Assisi LOOP lounge which lasts for about 6,000 treatments.  To meet FDA standards as a medical device, the battery cannot be replaced, so the entire device must be purchased again at end-of-life. There are larger versions of the LOOP lounge for larger dogs.

With the right option or combination of options, your cat can lead a relatively comfortable life even with arthritis. You may have to try different things before you find the combination that works best for your cat. Check with your pet insurance provided to see what they cover.

 

 

References

1. “Arthritis in Cats,” Brian Llera, BSc DVM and Robin Downing, DVM https://vcacanada.com/know-your-pet/arthritis-in-cats

3. “Pain Relief for Cats with Arthritis” https://www.petassure.com/maxscorner/arthritis-pain-relief-for-cats-home-remedies-and-treatments/ 
4. “How to Ease Joint Pain in Cats with Natural Remedies” https://www.paramountpethealth.com/blogs/articles/how-to-ease-joint-pain-in-cats-with-natural-remedies
5. “Feline Disease Management – Arthritis Management” https://felinedm.com/tips-tricks-and-how-to-do-stuff/arthritis-management/