Natural Treatment for Arthritis in Senior CatsNatural treatment for arthritis in senior cats is a safe, healthy option for keeping your arthritic cat active in her senior years.
The first preventative measure is to manage your cat's weight at a healthy level through proper nutrition and activity. Proper nutrition supplemented with vitamin C and daily activity can go a long way to keeping your cat's joints limber an healthy for years to come.
The second preventative measure is of course-regular visits to your vet, who can pick up on early symptoms of arthritis that may be difficult for you to discern. If your cat does respond to your vet's palpating her joints in a way that indicates pain, your vet can follow-up with appropriate tests to make an accurate early diagnosis of the cause. Signs of arthritis in your pet are limping, reluctance to jump or climb stairs, slowing in activity, stiffness when arising and change in demeanor-irritability, nervousness, etc. If you notice any of these and your cat hasn't been formally diagnosed with arthritis, you need to bring her to the vet promptly. These symptoms can also be attributable to more serious conditions that must be considered for your cat's health. Natural Treatment Options for Arthritis in Your Senior CatOnce a diagnosis has been made, there are several options in natural treatment that can be used in tandem to make your cat as comfortable as possible. First, glucosamine-chondroitin supplementation can be very helpful to managing your cat's arthritis. Glucosamine is a major component of cartilage and chondroitin inhibits enzymes that break down cartilage ; working together, these two substances give cartilage-forming cells the building blocks they need to build new cartilage and repair the existing cartilage. Glucosamine-chondroitin is a naturally-occurring substance and very safe as a natural treatment for arthritis in senior cats; it's also available in liquid and powder form that is administered with your pet's meal. A great liquid to try is Syn-Flex and a great powder is Cosequine. The liquid does have a slight taste to it, while the powder is tasteless. Secondly, make sure your cat has a warm place to sleep. Warmth is very soothing to painful joints and having your cat's bed near a safe heat source or in a sunny spot can provide daily relief for the pain of arthritis. I have slipped a heating pad on low heat between the cushion and cover of my cat's bed and he loves the warmth; I also notice less stiffness when he wakes in the morning. You can also make your cat's daily activities easier by making a few adjustments. A ramp can take the place of stairs, ecouraging movement without the high-impact joint activity of climbing the stairs. Providing a litter box in two near-by locations in stead of one will assist your pet as well as providing a litter box with lower sides that's easier to get in and out of. Gentle brushing your cat and/or cleaning the rectal area with a soft cloth will aid in daily grooming tasks that may have become difficult for your cat. Another option for natural treatment of arthritis in your senior cat is massage. Remember that your cat may be in pain, so start slowly and build trust. You may want to begin by petting your cat and build up slowly to gently massaging his joints in slow circular motions. Gradually work your way out to the muscles, taking your cat's cue as to when to ease up or stop altogether. Arthritis cannot be cured, but it can be managed with natural treatment. Be sure to work with your vet and your cat to manage pain symptoms in a way that best suits your cat's condition and it's progression (or regression-hey it can happen!) Return from Natural Treatment for Arthritis in Senior Cats to Natural Senior Cat Care
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