Issues

Is Your Cat Slowing Down? 

Know more about Osteoarthritis, otherwise known as a degenerative joint disease (DJD)

 

  At the age of 12, your cat seems to be slowing down a bit, and that could be perfectly normal. After all, a cat of her age—equivalent to the age of 65 or so in a human—has been living a full life and deserves to take it easy on herself.  Nevertheless, it’s a good idea to have the animal checked out by your veterinarian. It’s quite possible that her diminished activity is a consequence not of her advancing age but of debilitating pain in one or more of her joints.

Slowed-down, reclusive behavior is an indication of a joint problem in cats of any age.

 

A Common Disorder

The most frequently diagnosed feline joint disorder is Osteoarthritis, otherwise known as a Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD). This condition may be caused by an injury to a joint, by gradual wear and tear on a joint that takes place over time, or as the secondary consequence of a disease that compromises the internal structure of a joint.

What is a degenerative joint disease (DJD)?

As cats age, the tissues lining the joints deteriorate and degenerate. Degenerative joint disease (DJD) refers to arthritis or osteoarthritis which is the result of the gradual, irreversible deterioration of the articular cartilage within one or more of the joints. Arthritis is a general description for any condition that causes inflammation in the joints.

The formerly smooth and resilient cartilage becomes brittle as it degenerates. With severe DJD, the degenerated cartilage may actually break away from the bone and become loose within the joint. DJD can occur following a number of joint diseases, including infection, and may develop after bone or joint injury or surgery All joints in a cat’s body can be affected by DJD, but those that become most visibly apparent to the owner will be the movable joints, most often the shoulders and elbows. But the knees, wrists, and hips are also frequently affected. Outward signs of the condition will vary, depending on which joints are most painful, the extent of damage, and the animal’s age.

The earliest visible sign of DJD is likely to be apparent stiffness and a subtle reduction in an affected animal’s activity. An altered gait may eventually occur as the disease progresses or if the joint disorder has resulted from an injury.

Although DJD is not usually an inflammatory disease, mild inflammation plays a part in causing clinical signs. When the cartilage cells become damaged, they release substances that result in inflammation, causing pain to the cat and further damage to the cartilage of the joint, setting up a vicious cycle. As the degeneration continues, the joint becomes more unstable; scar tissue and/or bony growths will form within the joint in an attempt to stabilize it, contributing further to the DJD.

Risk Factors

There is no gender predisposition for DJD; male and female cats are equally susceptible to the condition. It is seen more frequently in obese cats than in those of normal weight; since overweight animals constantly exert excessive pressure on their weight-bearing joints. The only notable breed disposition for DJD is in Maine Coons who, due to their naturally stocky bodies, are more susceptible to hip dysplasia than other breeds.

 

The most prevalent contributing factor to DJD is age. In one study, researchers carefully analyzed X-rays of the spines and limbs of 100 middle-aged or elderly cats (10 years of age or older). The study found that very few of the animals had perfectly normal joints and that most of them had obvious radiographic signs of arthritis. Indeed, the X-rays revealed that 90 percent of cats over the age of 12 showed evidence of DJD. Young cats, however, are by no means invulnerable. The findings of another study suggested that 20 percent of all cats one year of age and older are already arthritic to some extent.

 

What are the signs of DJD?

Although the main symptom of DJD in dogs is lameness, this is not the case in cats. Since most cats with DJD show only subtle symptoms, DJD is often overlooked. The most common signs seen in cats with DJD are reluctance or inability to jump up or down from the furniture, general reluctance to move (often perceived as ‘sleeping more’), increased irritability when touched or handled (especially around the affected joints), stiffness, reluctance to sharpen the claws, reluctance to groom, and/or difficulty in getting into or out of the litterbox. Not every sign is observed in every cat with DJD.

 

Major signs of arthritis in cats associated with arthritis are:

 

• Reduced mobility
  • Reluctance, hesitance, or refusal to jump up or down
  • Jumping up to lower surfaces than previously
  • Jumping up or down less frequently
  • Difficulty going up or down stairs
  • Stiffness in the legs, especially after sleeping or resting for a while; occasionally there may be obvious lameness
  • Difficulty using the litter tray
  • Difficulty going through the cat flap
• Reduced activity
  • Increased time spent resting or sleeping
  • Not hunting or exploring the outdoor environment as frequently
  • Sleeping in different easier-to-access sites
  • Reduced interaction and playing less with people or other animals
• Altered grooming
  • Reduced frequency of time spent grooming
  • Matted and scruffy coat
  • Sometimes overgrooming of painful joints
  • Overgrown claws due to lack of activity and reduced sharpening of claws
• Temperament changes
  • More irritable or grumpy when handled or stroked
  • More irritable or grumpy in contact with other animals
  • Spending more time alone
  • Avoiding interaction with people and/or animals

 

How is DJD treated?

Most of the damage caused by DJD is irreversible. The goals of treatment are to improve the quality of life by minimizing pain and discomfort and to delay the progression of the disease. The quality of life for a cat with DJD can be improved by modifying the environment so that the cat can get around more readily and by providing pain relief.

Some suggestions for modifying the environment include providing a ‘step’ so that the cat can get up onto a favorite perching spot or sleeping area, providing litter boxes with shallower sides, placing litter boxes on every floor of a multi-level home, and making sure that food and water dishes are easily accessible. Food and water dishes may need to be raised off the floor. The cat should be encouraged to move about to maintain joint mobility and muscle tone. Regular periods of gentle play using toys such as feathers or laser pointers may be helpful.

 

Environmental enrichment for arthritic cats

Modifying the environment in many ways can greatly help to maintain the quality of life for an arthritic cat. Things to consider include:

• Use of soft, comfortable beds placed in easily accessible, quiet, draft-free locations – use of igloo beds can make an older cat feel warm and secure.
• Provision of a series of steps or a ramp to allow cats to access favored higher sites (e.g., the sofa, a windowsill, the cat flap, etc.)
• Make sure the cat flap is very easy to open, and if necessary, tie it open so the cat doesn’t need to push through.
• Always have a litter tray inside and one that has at least one low side for easy access.
• Make sure food and water are easily accessible, at floor level or with steps up to higher levels.
• Make sure the cat doesn’t have to go up or down stairs to access food, water, or litter trays.
• Spend time grooming and cleaning an arthritic cat as this may be difficult for them.
• Overgrown claws need regular cutting.

 

Medical treatment

Medications can be very effective at controlling the pain and inflammation associated with arthritis, but should only be used under direct supervision by your vet, as any drugs can have side effects.

Visit your veterinarian as early recognition, diagnosis, and treatment are essential.

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