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Cat arthritis and mobility guide

Arthritis & Mobility Changes in Senior Cats

What to notice, what to track, and what to ask your vet if your senior cat is jumping less, grooming less, avoiding stairs, missing the litter box, hiding more, or seeming stiff, cranky, or slowed down.

Your job is not to diagnose arthritis at home. It is to notice the pattern, know which signs should not wait, track what is changing, and bring that information to your veterinarian.

Start with urgent signsWhat to track
Start here
1

Notice what stopped

Less jumping, less grooming, lower sleeping spots, and litter box misses can be pain clues.

2

Know what cannot wait

Sudden back-leg weakness, dragging, collapse, breathing trouble, or straining to pee should not wait.

3

Bring clearer notes

Movement, grooming, litter box, appetite, behavior, and video notes can help your vet see the pattern.

Your senior cat may never limp.Instead, your cat may stop jumping onto the bed, hesitate before a favorite windowsill, sleep in lower places, groom less over the hips or back, pee beside the litter box, or react when brushed near sore areas.

None of that looks like the limping, crying picture many people expect from arthritis — and that is exactly why feline arthritis is so easy to miss. Cats often adapt, avoid, and stop doing things that hurt.

One common reason for these changes in an older cat is arthritis, also called osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease. But kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, dental pain, urinary disease, neurologic problems, vision changes, injuries, and other illnesses can overlap.

This guide can help you

✓Recognize subtle, easy-to-miss signs of arthritis and mobility pain in cats.
✓Understand why cats may not limp even when they hurt.
✓Know which changes are gradual and which signs need urgent care.
✓Document movement, grooming, litter box, appetite, and behavior changes.

This guide cannot

!Diagnose arthritis or tell you how severe your cat’s pain is.
!Replace an exam, pain assessment, bloodwork, imaging, or veterinary care.
!Give you a medication or treatment plan.
!Tell you whether the changes are arthritis, urinary disease, dental pain, neurologic disease, or something else.
One urgent distinction to flag up front: if your cat is straining in the litter box, making repeated trips, crying, or producing little or no urine, that is different from mobility-related litter box changes. That pattern can be a urinary emergency, especially in male cats, and should be seen right away.
If this is happening now

Most arthritis changes are gradual. Some sudden signs should not wait.

Gradual trouble jumping is not the same as a cat who suddenly cannot use the back legs. Sudden weakness, dragging, paralysis, cold limbs, collapse, severe pain, breathing trouble, not eating, or urinary straining should not be assumed to be arthritis.

Call an emergency clinic now

!Suddenly cannot walk, is dragging one or both back legs, or has sudden hind-leg weakness or paralysis.
!Back legs feel cold, painful, or unusually weak, or your cat cries loudly with sudden back-leg trouble.
!Collapse, severe weakness, sudden severe pain, trouble breathing, or a fall or injury followed by abnormal movement.
!Straining in the litter box, repeated trips with little/no urine, or crying in the litter box.
!Has eaten nothing for about a day, or very little for more than a day, especially if overweight, fragile, or already ill.

Call your veterinarian promptly

!Jumping less, hesitating before jumps, missing jumps, avoiding stairs, or sleeping in lower places.
!Grooming less, developing mats near the hips, back, belly, or rear, or resisting brushing and handling.
!Accidents near the litter box without straining, moving slowly after rest, playing less, or hiding more.
!Becoming more irritable, touch-sensitive, cranky, or defensive when handled.
Not eating still matters on a mobility page.
You do not need to panic over one missed meal, but a cat eating nothing for about a day, or very little for more than a day, deserves a call. Cats can develop a serious liver problem called hepatic lipidosis, or fatty liver, when they stop eating, especially if illness, nausea, or rapid weight loss is involved.
If your cat is repeatedly entering the litter box, straining, crying, or producing little or no urine, do not assume the problem is arthritis or access. Call right away.
What you may notice at home

Feline arthritis often shows up as changes in routine.

You may not see a limp. You may see a cat quietly reorganizing life around discomfort.

Jumping and climbing changes

Hesitating before jumping, looking at a favorite spot but not jumping, missing jumps, choosing lower furniture, avoiding stairs, or waiting to be lifted.

Movement and routine changes

Moving slowly after waking, stiffness after rest, shorter bursts of activity, avoiding slippery floors, or staying in one area of the home.

Grooming and coat changes

Grooming less, mats over the hips or back, a greasy or unkempt coat, a dirty rear, difficulty twisting, or resenting brushing.

Litter box changes

Avoiding a high-sided box, accidents near the box, hesitating at the entrance, trouble stepping in or out, or avoiding boxes upstairs or downstairs.

Mood and handling changes

Hiding more, less social behavior, hissing, swatting, growling, resisting being picked up, or pulling away when hips, back, legs, or paws are touched.

What your cat stopped doing

If your cat stops doing something they used to enjoy, there may be a reason. Noticing what your cat has stopped doing can be a clear clue that something hurts.

The litter box distinction matters.
A cat peeing beside the box because the box is painful or hard to enter is different from a cat repeatedly entering the box, straining, crying, or producing little or no urine. If you are unsure which pattern you are seeing, call.
Why cats may not limp

A cat can be painful without a clear limp.

This is why feline arthritis gets missed so often. Cats often adapt around discomfort rather than showing it clearly.

Pain can affect both sides

If both back legs hurt, there may be no obvious one-sided limp to spot.

Cats avoid painful movements

Your cat may not visibly struggle to reach the windowsill. They may simply stop going there.

Routine changes are clues

Lower sleeping spots, fewer jumps, less grooming, less play, and altered routes through the home may be the signs.

No daily leash walk

Cats are not walked like dogs, so subtle gait changes may not stand out unless you know what to watch for.

Arthritis or something else?

Many arthritis-like changes can overlap with other conditions.

This does not mean every subtle change is a crisis. It means the right next step is not guessing from home.

Medical overlaps

!Kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, dental disease, urinary disease, constipation, obesity, and cognitive changes can overlap with mobility changes.

Movement-specific concerns

!Neurologic or spinal problems, vision changes, injuries, infection, inflammation, or cancer can also cause pain or sudden changes.
Before calling or visiting the vet

What to document before calling or visiting the vet

Your notes are valuable because many arthritis signs happen gradually and at home, where your vet cannot see the full routine.

Movement changes

What changed first, when you noticed it, whether it was gradual or sudden, which jumps are avoided, and whether stairs or surfaces are harder.

Grooming and coat

Grooming changes, mats or dirty areas near the hips, back, belly, or rear, and whether brushing has become harder.

Litter box pattern

Accidents, where they happen, whether there is straining or little/no urine, and whether box height, stairs, or slick floors may be involved.

Body and behavior

Appetite, weight, hiding, irritability, touch sensitivity, falls, injuries, sudden worsening, and existing medical conditions.

Meds and history

Current medications, supplements, and conditions such as kidney disease, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, heart disease, dental disease, or urinary disease.

Safe video

Short videos of walking, jumping, stairs, grooming attempts, or litter box entry can help if safe and quick. Do not delay urgent care to film.

Daily tracking

What to track day to day

Tracking can help you and your veterinarian see whether your cat is stable, improving, or getting worse.

The tracker does not diagnose, score, monitor, or interpret medical data. Exams, veterinary assessment, lab work, imaging when needed, and your veterinarian’s guidance still guide medical decisions.

Use it to log:

Mobility
Jumping
Stairs
Litter box use
Grooming
Appetite
Weight
Pain signs
Energy
Sleep / restlessness
Behavior / hiding
Medications

Use Notes for details like “hesitated before jumping onto bed,” “used chair as step to windowsill,” “moved slowly after nap,” “mats near hips,” “hissed when brushed near lower back,” or “peed beside litter box, no straining.”

Tracking should never delay urgent or emergency care. Call first and log later.

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Vet conversation

Questions to ask your vet

You do not need to ask everything at once. Choose the questions that fit your cat and the moment.

If you feel overwhelmed, start with these three:

1

Could these changes be pain or arthritis, and how can we check?

2

What signs would mean this is urgent or not arthritis?

3

What home changes would help my cat most right now?

Could kidney disease, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, dental disease, neurologic disease, vision loss, urinary disease, or another condition be contributing?
Should we do an orthopedic exam, pain assessment, bloodwork, imaging, or other testing?
How can we tell arthritis pain from weakness, illness, or neurologic change?
What pain-control options are safe for cats?
Is a cat-specific arthritis injection appropriate for my cat?
Are NSAIDs ever appropriate for my cat, and what monitoring would be needed?
Are there human medications, supplements, or combinations I should avoid?
How do my cat’s kidney, heart, thyroid, or diabetes risks affect pain-management choices?
What home modifications should we prioritize first?
Should we adjust litter box height, number, location, or type?
What weight or body condition goal is realistic?
How should I monitor whether the plan is helping?
If cost is a concern, what is the most important first step?
After veterinary guidance

Daily care and home changes after veterinary guidance

These supports do not replace diagnosis or pain management, but they can reduce daily strain after your veterinarian has evaluated your cat.

Litter box access

Ask about low-entry boxes, larger boxes, boxes on each level, non-slip surfaces, easier locations, and softer litter if hard pellets seem uncomfortable.

Jumping and stairs

Steps, ramps, lower resting spots, stable intermediate surfaces, and keeping essentials on one floor can make favorite places easier to reach.

Flooring and traction

Rugs, runners, yoga mats, and non-slip paths can help around food, water, beds, litter boxes, and favorite routes.

Food and water access

Ask whether it would help to keep food and water near resting areas, add water stations, use easier-to-reach bowls, or watch posture at the bowl.

Resting and grooming comfort

Soft bedding, warm resting spots, easy-to-enter beds, and gentle short grooming sessions may help. Stop if your cat becomes painful or defensive.

Veterinary pain plan

Your vet may discuss prescribed pain medication, cat-specific arthritis injections, weight management, rehab, acupuncture, laser, or recheck visits.

Do not give human pain medication to your cat.
Many human pain relievers are dangerous for cats, and pain control should be veterinary-guided.
Common worries

Common worries you may be carrying

“Is this just old age?”

Aging can make arthritis more common, but “old age” should not end the conversation. Jumping less, grooming less, hiding, stiffness, irritability, and litter box changes may reflect treatable pain or another medical issue.

“My cat is not limping. Could this still be pain?”

Yes. Cats often do not limp, especially if pain affects both sides or if they simply avoid the movements that hurt.

“My cat still jumps sometimes. Does that mean everything is fine?”

Not necessarily. Intermittent ability does not rule out pain. Hesitation, fewer jumps, lower choices, or avoiding certain jumps can still matter.

“Is peeing outside the box arthritis or urinary disease?”

It could be either, or something else. A cat peeing beside a hard-to-enter box may have a mobility problem. Repeated box trips with little or no urine may be an emergency.

“Can I give human pain medication?”

No. Many human pain medications are dangerous or toxic to cats. Pain control should be guided by your veterinarian.

“Will home changes really make a difference?”

Often, yes. Low-entry boxes, ramps, rugs, easier access, soft bedding, and grooming help can reduce daily strain. They do not replace veterinary care, but they can make home life easier.

“What if my cat hates being handled?”

That may be part of the problem. Touch sensitivity can be a pain clue. Tell your vet where your cat reacts and what handling has become harder.

“What if I cannot afford everything?”

Tell your vet. Ask what is most urgent, what can be staged, and which lower-cost home changes may help while you work through options.

“How do I know if quality of life is becoming a concern?”

You do not have to figure that out alone. Your vet can help you think through mobility, comfort, appetite, hygiene, sleep, behavior, and whether your cat is still having more good days than hard ones.

Trusted resources

Trusted resources for deeper reading

These resources are for deeper reading. They do not replace veterinary care.

Vet school overview

Cornell Feline Health Center — Is Your Cat Slowing Down?

A clear vet-school overview of how joint problems may show up in cats.

Visit Cornell
Cat-specific guidance

International Cat Care — Arthritis in Cats

Cat-specific caregiver guidance on signs, diagnosis, and care considerations.

Visit iCatCare
Home modifications

International Cat Care — Cat Caregiver Guide: Home Modifications

Practical home-change guidance for cats with reduced mobility.

Visit iCatCare
Feline-focused guidance

Cat Friendly Homes / FelineVMA — Degenerative Joint Disease in Cats

Caregiver-friendly guidance from a feline-focused veterinary organization.

Visit Cat Friendly Homes
Owner overview

VCA Animal Hospitals — Degenerative Joint Disease in Cats

Accessible overview of signs, diagnosis, and management options.

Visit VCA
Treatment overview

FDA — Osteoarthritis in Cats: More Common Than You Think

Plain-language information on feline osteoarthritis and approved treatment options.

Visit FDA
Veterinary guidelines

AAHA — 2022 Pain Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats

More technical, but useful background on how veterinarians approach pain assessment and management.

Visit AAHA
Poison help
Pet Poison Helpline: 1-855-764-7661. ASPCA Animal Poison Control: 1-888-426-4435. Both are available 24/7; a consultation fee may apply.
If your cat's situation looks a little different, these guides may fit better:
Straining to Pee / Urinary Blockage in CatsDental Disease & Mouth Pain in CatsPain Signs GuideHelp With Vet BillsBrowse the full Resource Library

A final note

This guide is a starting point for caregivers, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. The quiet changes you may be seeing in your senior cat — the jump that no longer happens, the back that is no longer groomed, the box that is suddenly harder to use — can have several causes.

Notice the pattern. Watch for urgent signs. Bring what you are seeing to your veterinarian. And trust that nagging sense that something changed. Noticing what your cat has stopped doing is exactly the kind of attention that helps.

Last reviewed: June 2026