Arthritis and Nutrition for Cats

My cat was just diagnosed with osteoarthritis. My veterinarian says that my cat can benefit from changing her food. What does that mean?

Approximately 20% of cats across all ages suffer from painful osteoarthritis in one or more joints. The incidence of osteoarthritis increases with age. Because cats are living longer, it is more likely than ever that every cat owner will face the issue of osteoarthritis at some point. Nutritional science reveals that pet owners can make a huge impact on the quality of life of cats with osteoarthritis by carefully choosing appropriate nutrient profiles, depending on what your cat needs.

My veterinarian says my cat is overweight and that this contributes to her osteoarthritis pain. Is this true? What should I do?

Research reveals that the white fat that accumulates in overweight and obese cats actually secretes inflammatory and pro-inflammatory hormones that contribute to the inflammation and pain of osteoarthritis. That means weight and obesity are even more important factors in cats with osteoarthritis than we once thought. For generations it was presumed that the extra weight simply put extra stress and strain on joints with osteoarthritis, and that was the extent of the effect.

Step one in an overweight or obese cat is weight normalization with a focus on normalizing body condition as well. It is not enough just to make the number on the scale smaller. The goal is to help your cat burn fat and preserve or build muscle. Your veterinarian can prescribe a specific nutrient profile and daily portion to accomplish that goal. A lean body condition means we should see a well-defined waistline when we view the cat from above. We should be able to easily feel(not see) the ribs on the sides of the chest just behind the shoulder blades. Your veterinarian can help you look for and interpret these landmarks.

In cats with osteoarthritis, it is much better to target a very lean body condition versus a slightly heavy one. If your veterinarian uses a 1-to-5 body condition scoring, the target should be 2.75/5. If your veterinarian uses a 1-to-9 body condition scoring, the target should be 4.25/9. These targets are just a bit leaner than what used to be considered “ideal”.

Once my cat is lean, is there anything else I can nutritionally to help my cat’s osteoarthritis?

Your veterinarian is the best source for evaluating the nutritional science and the various nutritional products labeled for “joint support.” We know that a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids – specifically EPA – provides demonstrable joint support. It is important for the level of omega-3 fatty acids to be high enough to make an impact on the joints. One option is to supplement the chosen diet with a triglyceride form of omega-3 fatty acid that is easily absorbed. Again, your veterinarian is the best source for a recommendation.

What if my cat has another disease beside osteoarthritis? What do I feed her?

Many older cats with osteoarthritis have other diseases as well – heart disease, chronic kidney disease, and liver disease are common examples. Chronic diseases in cats can now often be managed effectively using specific therapeutic nutrient profiles. Your veterinarian will help you to set priorities from a nutritional perspective in order to choose a nutrient profile that is the best fit depending on the specific cat and her particular needs.

It is great to know that in many cases of osteoarthritis we can actually reduce the need for medications simply by our choice of therapeutic nutrition. Working closely with your veterinarian will take the guess-work out of choosing from so many options.