Arthritis and Nutrition for Cats

Approximately 20% of cats across all ages suffer from painful osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease) in one or more joints, and 90% of cats over the age of 12 have evidence on X-rays of arthritis. The incidence of this medical condition increases with age. With cats living longer, it is ever more likely that cat owners will need to manage osteoarthritis for their cat at some point.

How does a cat’s weight affect its osteoarthritis pain?

Research has clearly demonstrated that body fat (adipose tissue) secretes inflammatory and proinflammatory hormones that contribute to chronic inflammation and painful joints. You have a critical role to play in helping your cat achieve a more appropriate weight and reduce the risk of osteoarthritis and associated pain that diminishes quality of life.

How can I help my cat get to a healthy weight?

Step one is to learn how to score your dog on body condition. Work with your veterinarian and their team to better understand what your cat’s score is now and what goal you should aim for. In cats with osteoarthritis, it is much better to target a lean body condition than a slightly heavy one. If your veterinarian uses a 1-to-5 scale for body condition scoring, the target should be 3/5. If your veterinarian uses a 1-to-9 scale, the target should be 4/9 or 5/9.

A lean body condition means there should be a well-defined waistline when you view the cat from above. You should see a tucked-up abdomen when you view the cat from the side. Finally, you should be able to easily feel (but not see) the ribs on the sides of the chest. Your veterinarian can help you look for these landmarks. There are many online resources that demonstrate how to assign a score.

Step two is to find out how many calories your cat needs to eat each day; your veterinarian can calculate this number. For cats who are overweight or obese, the daily calorie goal is set for the cat’s “ideal” body weight and body condition rather than their current weight and condition. You can then consider what you are currently feeding your pet, and what changes are needed. Look on your pet’s food label or at the company website to find the calories per cup (or per can or pouch).

Veterinary therapeutic diets designed for weight loss have higher protein, reduced or restricted fat, and higher dietary fibre, while balancing all other micronutrients. These products specifically made for weight loss, rather than weight management, have been shown to work in clinical trials.

Step three is to help your cat burn fat and preserve (or build) lean muscle. The most effective way to achieve this goal is with structured physical rehabilitation. Veterinary rehabilitation clinics offer numerous services to support cats that need to lose weight and to manage pain associated with stiff joints. After an evaluation, the veterinary rehab team can provide exercises to do with your cat at home, along with a recommended plan for different therapies.

Step four is to stay connected with your veterinary health care team for regular weigh-ins. They can offer suggestions for low-calorie treats and enrichment activities, such as food puzzles or low-impact training games.

Once my cat is leaner, how can I use nutrition to help manage my dog’s osteoarthritis?

Your veterinarian can help you evaluate the many nutritional products labeled for joint support. It is well known that a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, specifically eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), can help modify chronic joint inflammation. However, the level of EPA and DHA must be high enough to be effective.

Many over-the-counter cat foods have some fish oil added and many pet parents give their cat a fish oil supplement, but not all these products will have a sufficient concentration of EPA and DHA to make any difference.

Several veterinary therapeutic diets have been designed for weight management and they include most of a cat’s targeted dose of EPA and DHA, which is based on the cat’s body weight. These diets also meet nutritional guidelines for adult cats (according to the Association of American Feed Control Officials) so they can be fed long-term. 

Your veterinarian can work with a nutritionist in the company or an independent veterinary nutritionist to calculate the target dose for your cat’s body weight and determine if the daily portion of food will supply enough EPA and DHA. If necessary, a supplemental amount of EPA and DHA can be fed as a liquid or as soft gel capsules at mealtimes.

Pet supplements evaluated by an independent review process are recommended, such as at www.consumerlab.com. Independent reviewers typically analyze for things like purity (i.e., is the product free of specific contaminants?) and strength (i.e., does the product contain the amount of ingredient claimed on the label?). Your veterinarian can help you determine which omega-3 fatty acid supplements have been independently evaluated and are suitable for your cat.

Glucosamine-containing products are widely available and have been popular for decades; however, controlled studies have failed to show a beneficial effect in cats (or dogs). Glucosamine and chondroitin are not effective in treating osteoarthritis. Pet parents should consider omega-3 fatty acids (EPA/DHA) and physical rehabilitation instead.

My cat has another disease in addition to osteoarthritis. What should I feed her?

Many cats with osteoarthritis have other conditions; common examples include kidney, heart, or disease. Chronic diseases in cats can be supported with diets that have specific, therapeutic nutrient profiles. Your veterinarian will help set nutritional priorities. A referral to a veterinary nutritionist may also be valuable, to select a nutrient profile and recipe or product that best fits a specific cat’s needs.

In many cases of osteoarthritis, you can reduce your cat’s need for medications simply by using physical rehabilitation and improving body weight by feeding a veterinary therapeutic diet. Working closely with your veterinarian will take the guesswork out of choosing from many options.