CATS · Condition guide
Feline osteoarthritis: the most under-diagnosed disease in older cats
Feline osteoarthritis is the most under-diagnosed disease in older cats. Radiographic studies suggest more than 60% of cats over 6 years and over 90% of cats over 12 have OA somewhere — yet it's formally diagnosed in only about 2% in primary care. The reason is that cats almost never limp; instead they quietly stop doing things. Less jumping, missed litter boxes, reduced grooming, hiding more, irritability when picked up — these are the real signs of feline OA, and they're easy to write off as "just old age".
Treatment options for cats have transformed in recent years. Frunevetmab (Solensia) — a once-monthly subcutaneous anti-NGF antibody — was the first drug ever licensed specifically for feline OA and has been a step-change for cats who can't safely take long-term NSAIDs. Meloxicam (used at the lowest effective dose, with kidney monitoring) is also a mainstay. Environmental modifications — steps to the bed, low-sided litter trays, warm comfortable resting spots — matter as much as the drugs.
What vets typically check for
- Detailed owner history using the Feline Musculoskeletal Pain Index (FMPI) — gold standard for OA pain assessment in cats.
- Watch the cat move on the consult-room floor; palpate every joint while distracted.
- Radiographs of the most painful joints — but bear in mind radiographic changes correlate poorly with pain.
- Renal bloodwork before starting any NSAID, then ongoing monitoring.
- Treatment: frunevetmab (Solensia) monthly ± meloxicam at lowest effective dose; weight loss; environmental modification.
Not a replacement for veterinary care. Use this to walk into the conversation prepared, not to self-diagnose.
Real cases from the veterinary literature
Peer-reviewed reports our semantic search surfaces for Osteoarthritis in cats. Click into any case for the full abstract — or run a personalised search with your pet's exact details.
- Common calcaneal tendon repair in cats: outcomes and complications associated with different postoperative tarsocrural joint immobilisation methods.
The Journal of small animal practice · 2026
A group of cats with injuries to the common calcaneal tendon (a tendon in the back leg) underwent surgery to repair the damage. After surgery, some cats had their joints immobilized using internal methods like screws or plates, while others used external methods like braces. The cats that had internal fixation had a much lower complication rate (13%) compared to those with exte
- EEG-based quantification of chronic pain in cats: A proof-of-concept study using the Piq algorithm.
Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997) · 2026 · Canada
A group of adult neutered cats, including two with osteoarthritis (OA), were studied to see if a new EEG-based method could help measure chronic pain. The researchers used a special algorithm called Piq to analyze brain activity and found that cats with OA had higher pain scores compared to pain-free cats. This suggests that the algorithm can detect pain levels in cats, similar
- EXPRESS: FLUOROSCOPY-ASSISTED SINGLE CANNULATED SCREW PLACEMENT FOR STABILISATION OF BILATERAL SACROILIAC JOINT LUXATION IN SIX CATS: TECHNIQUE AND OUTCOME.
Journal of feline medicine and surgery · 2026 · France
Six cats were treated for a serious condition called bilateral sacroiliac luxation, where the joints connecting the spine to the pelvis become dislocated. A special technique using fluoroscopy (a type of real-time X-ray) helped place screws to stabilize the joints. Most cats recovered well, with five out of six showing excellent to moderate improvement in their ability to move.
- Somatosensory and visual evoked potentials and brainstem auditory evoked responses in osteoarthritic cats with chronic pain - a comparative study.
Frontiers in veterinary science · 2026 · Canada
A group of cats with osteoarthritis were studied to understand how chronic pain affects their sensory responses. These cats showed changes in how they reacted to touch and sound, indicating that their nervous systems were more sensitive due to pain. The researchers found that as pain levels increased, certain sensory responses were delayed or heightened. This suggests that cats
- Safety assessment of frunevetmab for osteoarthritis pain in cats: disproportionality analysis of the Food and Drug Administration Animal Drug Adverse Events database.
Journal of veterinary internal medicine · 2026 · China
A group of cats receiving frunevetmab, a treatment for osteoarthritis pain, were monitored for side effects reported to the FDA. Among the 5,248 reports analyzed, many cats experienced skin problems like itching, hair loss, and dermatitis. Some cats also had unexpected issues such as injection site pain and other skin lesions. While frunevetmab is effective for pain relief, the
- Feline Shoulder Arthrodesis Using 3D-printed Patient-specific Guides.
Veterinary and comparative orthopaedics and traumatology : V.C.O.T · 2026 · United Kingdom
Four cats with shoulder problems underwent surgery to fix their shoulders using special 3D-printed guides designed just for them. These guides helped the veterinarians place the implants accurately during the procedure. After the surgeries, the cats showed good improvement in how they moved and were more active. The follow-up evaluations confirmed that the surgeries were succes
Frequently asked questions
- My cat doesn't limp — could it still be arthritis?
- Yes — almost certainly, if the cat is over 10 and showing behaviour changes. Cats hide pain by withdrawal, not limping. The classic feline OA signs are reduced jumping, missing the litter tray edge, sleeping in different (often lower) places, less grooming, and irritability when touched on the back or hips.
- What is Solensia?
- Solensia (frunevetmab) is a once-monthly subcutaneous injection that blocks nerve growth factor, a key pain signal in OA. It was the first drug ever specifically licensed for feline OA pain and has been transformative — many cats become noticeably more active, jump more, and seek out interaction again within 1-2 monthly doses.
- Are NSAIDs safe long-term in cats?
- Meloxicam can be used long-term in cats at the lowest effective dose with regular kidney monitoring, despite older label cautions in some countries. Many cats with both OA and CKD benefit on a careful low-dose protocol. Discuss the risk/benefit with your vet — uncontrolled chronic pain is itself harmful to the kidneys via reduced perfusion.