Six Tell Tale Signs That Indicate Your Cat Is Suffering From Joint Pain

Cats are living creatures and in many ways, they suffer from the same ailments that affect humans too. As we age, we will find that our bones and joints become less strong. It is the same with your cat. In fact, it is quite common for senior cats to suffer from joint pain just like us, humans. But how can you tell for sure if kitty is indeed suffering in silence? Read on.

Older cats may suffer from Osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease. One possible cause of this disease is excess weight, the other is of course, age.

So how can you tell if your cat is indeed suffering from joint pain or Osteoarthritis? Here are 6 tell tale signs:-

1. Altered gait

-- You may suddenly notice that your cat does not walk the same she always does. Her gait may change or she may limp on one side indicating pain on one or 2 of her legs.

2. Difficulty getting into and out of the litter box

-- She may exhibit lethargy or stiffness when getting up and about. That includes getting into and out of her litter box. Such lethargy indicates pain in the legs or joints

3. Obvious pain when walking

-- You should be able to tell that kitty is obviously feeling pain when walking, like an old lady. That's another danger sign.

4. Not so willing to jump

-- If you notice kitty is not so "bouncy", that's a red alert. Healthy cats are normally playful so her reluctance to jump and play is not a good sign but an indication of pain somewhere in her body

5. Loss in appetite

-- Is your cat eating less these days? While this alone does not indicate joint pain but taken together with the other points above, you should, nonetheless, be concerned.

6. Personality changes

-- Another subtle indication is that your cat may suddenly become nervous, more aggressive or even depressed. These emotional changes are strong indications that things are not right.

What should you do if your cat is suffering from joint pain? Obviously, bringing her to the vet is one option but this may be unnecessary and costly. So here are some things you can do at home to treat kitty:

1. Control her diet and weight

-- is kitty putting on too much weight? If so, she needs to slim down because excessive body weight can put pressure on her joints and cause joint pain. Put less food on her feeder but do so gradually, not suddenly.

2. More exercises

-- your cat may actually need more exercises to reduce her weight. But there is also another side to exercises - they warm up the joints so that kitty becomes more flexible. Give her more space to move and stretch, even to run around the house.

3. Provide more warm

-- warmth can be soothing for painful joints as it aids in blood circulation. You may want to buy heated pads for cats or simply provide more cushions and blankets to keep your cat warm

4. Gentle massages

-- gentle massages can help improve blood circulation and also ease pain.

If the above home treatment does not help, then it is time to take her to the vet.

Besides the above, you may also want to seriously consider giving your cat some product for cat pain relief. These pain relief remedies can help if your cat is really in pain and need immediate attention. Also, consider getting some pet or cat vitamins because cats do need these in order to keep healthy.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_T

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Ten Tips for a Healthy Older Cat

As your cat ages, you're going to have to care for them slightly differently then you would a young cat. Your cat will be slowing down a little, and without proper care, may develop health problems. Here are 10 tips for having a healthy older cat.

Ten Tips For a Healthier Cat:

1. Loss of teeth- It is harder for the cat to chew, and it's possible for mouth bacteria to make its way into the cat's blood stream. It's best if you made sure that your cat's dental health was good all of its life to prevent loss of teeth in the first place, but in the meantime, you can make eating easier for your cat by feeding it wet food, or dry food with a little water added in. You can also try out using crunchy dental health treats, or investing in cat toothpaste and a cat toothbrush. Try switching to a "complete" cat food, or if possible, feed them a food made especially for senior cats for a healthier diet.
2. Less Exercise- The cat will become less agile. You can keep your cat in shape by playing with them daily, or at least once a week.
3. Stiff joints- Stiff joints will result in aching, and/or arthritis. If your cat is licking its joints excessively, it may be a sign that your cat has stiff joints. Your cat will be less likely to develop stiff joints if you play with your cat often.
4. Skin disease- When your cat has a skin disease it may be in pain, and have an awful itch. There are many different types of skin diseases. Some are caused by allergies, others are caused by bug bites or worms. There are quite a few different treatments for skin diseases, depending on what the cause is.
5. More time sleeping- As your cat ages it will need more sleep, so give them a warm and comfortable place to nap. Unfortunately, your cat will get less exercise, and will be prone to obesity. Remember to have playtime with your cats, and they will get in some exercise. You and your cat will also bond more if you play together.
6. Less acute hearing- The cat might not hear you calling, and may be easily frightened or surprised. This may lead to a flighty cat, who is afraid of people. Try not to sneak up behind your cat, and stay in a range that it won't surprise them if they see you.
7. Deteriorating eyesight- Your cat may develop cataracts, and may not notice their surroundings as much. Make sure that you don't appear close up out the corner of their eye, and surprise them.
8. Thinner coat and loss of conditioning- A thinner coat will leave the cat less protected from cold, and other animals. Loss of conditioning may cause dry skin, which can lead to skin disease. This can be prevented by giving your cat a supplement in his/her food such as fish oil. Be sure that the food you are feeding them is nutritionally complete and has enough omega-3 fatty acids. You may notice that your cat is starting to look scruffy. As cats age, they don't groom as much, so you may consider purchasing a cat brush so you can help out and keep your cat well groomed. You'll also find less cat hair around the house if you keep them groomed!
9. Poorer absorption and digestion- This causes a sensitive stomach, allergies, stiff joints, lethargy, slow healing, bloating, poor coat or skin, loose stool, and excessive shedding. It sounds awful, but can be prevented easily. Some advise feeding your cat fresh, high quality meat, fowl, and fish, along with the use of probiotics, digestive enzymes, lipids, and minerals. You can also help out your cat's digestive system by adding high fiber foods to their diet. A little bit of pumpkin should work well.
10. Obesity- Obesity can predispose cats to diabetes, Hepatic Lipidosis, and arthritis. Once again, playing with your cat as exercise should help with obesity. You may also want to put your cat on a diet to help it lose some weight.

Overall, give your cat a lot of love, and keep him/her comfortable in their older years. Your cat will live longer, and stay healthy through their old age.

If you enjoyed this article or found it informative check out my blog for others like it.

http://ecatbehaviors.blogspot.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eileen_C.

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