You want the very best life for your cat, even if they’re getting up there in age. You want to see them run, play, and climb into that favourite spot on top of the bookshelf.
The thing is, senior cats have different needs than they used to, and that means you need to approach their wellness differently, too.
Below we'll cover some of the common senior cat health problems, along with some treatments, and prevention methods.
Arthritis is a painful condition in cats that occurs as a result of degeneration of their joints. The unstable joint causes the bones to move abnormally, resulting in the cartilage being worn away and causing the joint to become inflamed and painful due to the bone-on-bone friction.
Arthritis in cats can occur for a number of reasons, including age (older cats are more likely to develop arthritis), genetics (some cat breeds are more prone to arthritis than others), weight (obese cats are prone to developing arthritis), and environmental factors (diet, nutrition, exercise level, etc.)
Like dogs, the regeneration of cartilage starts declining early in a cat’s life. This means that even though arthritis is commonly associated with older cats, younger cats can develop it as well. This is why it’s important to include a joint supplement in your cat’s diet, so their body can continue to produce much-need cartilage to protect their joints as they age.
Treatments for arthritis in cats include incorporating an extra-strength joint supplement like TRI-ACTA H.A. into your cat’s diet, keeping your cat at a healthy weight, encouraging low-impact exercises like walking on an underwater treadmill or leash walking, and providing light massages after a walk or exercise to remove lactic acid from your cat’s muscles.
That being said, one of the easiest first steps you can take to help your cat suffering from arthritis is incorporating TRI-ACTA H.A into their diet. Its extra-strength formula provides higher levels of glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, and hyaluronic acid, all essential components for joint support to help lubricate and heal your cat’s joints, aiding in reducing pain and helping her feel more comfortable over time.
While it’s natural for your cat’s body to lessen the production of cartilage, possibly leading to arthritis later in life, doing what you can to help prevent this disease from occurring in the first place is never a bad thing.
Even though the typical cat sleeps the majority of the day away, providing fun and interesting toys and structures for your cat will encourage her to exercise and play, helping to work her joints and keep her at a healthy weight, both things that are important for preventing arthritis from developing.
Cats are known to be daredevils that run, jump, and fit themselves into small spaces with ease. But as your cat navigates the world in their own way, they can possibly get ligament strains and injuries over time.
The main causes of ligament strains and injury in cats include age, weight, and trauma. A prior accident to a joint or ligament can cause that area to be more susceptible to recurrent injuries over time and you may notice your cat limping.
While cats are notorious for trying to hide their pain, there are telltale signs that you can look for to help you identify a ligament injury in your cat. These signs include limping, or your cat may intentionally stop using the affected leg, or at least try to avoid using it as much as they can. Behavioural changes are also common; your cat might hiss, withdraw, or cry out in pain in response to you touching or attempting to touch the affected area.
Common treatment options for cats with ligament strains or injuries include physical therapy, weight management, NSAIDs, and joint supplements (TRI-ACTA H.A. is a great choice to promote healing).
Ways that you can prevent ligament strains and injury in your cat include ensuring your cat gets plenty of exercise, managing your cat’s weight, feeding your cat a nutritious diet, and giving your cat a joint supplement like TRI-ACTA for Pets.
It’s important to remember that strains and sprains can happen, regardless of the precautions taken. However, taking a proactive approach in caring for your cat’s joints is paramount for reducing the likelihood of these injuries occurring.
Over time, your cat’s body produces less glucosamine, the essential component for repairing and maintaining cartilage. This means that as your cat ages, they can become more prone to joint injuries and problems. Integricare products use two types of glucosamine to help keep your cat’s joints healthy.
There are two types of glucosamine that are used in our TRI-ACTA for Pets products:
Glucosamine Hydrochloride (HCI): As a highly bioavailable and pure form of glucosamine, glucosamine HCI is readily absorbed and efficiently used by your cat’s body.
Glucosamine Sulphate: This type of glucosamine provides support for cartilage repair and contributes to the production of collagen within your cat’s body, which is one of the essential components that make up the cartilage in your cat’s joints.
These two types of glucosamine together provide the support that your cat needs to maintain their joint health while they run, jump, and play.
Alongside the two types of glucosamine mentioned above, the other active ingredients in TRI-ACTA that support these glucosamine’s positive effects are chondroitin sulphate, Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), and hyaluronic acid.
Chondroitin is necessary for the synthesis of glycosaminoglycans. But more importantly, it inhibits and neutralises destructive enzymes in the joint. In doing this, chondroitin acts to prevent the breakdown of cartilage. Studies show that supplementing glucosamine and chondroitin together enhances the efficacy of both components individually.
MSM is an organic sulphur-containing compound found naturally in plants and animals. It is a powerful antioxidant and provides whole-body pain and inflammatory relief.
Hyaluronic acid, within the joint, works to increase the supply and viscosity of synovial fluid. The main precursor to joint degeneration and arthritis is a lack of synovial fluid to properly encapsulate and lubricate the joint. When the joint lacks proper lubrication, friction between cartilage and bone occurs, leading to pain, inflammation and decreased resistance to compressive forces.
Since 1999 Integricare Animal Health has grown as a supplier of premium joint supplements available to horse and pet professionals throughout North America.
Since 1999 Integricare Animal Health has grown as a supplier of premium joint supplements available to horse and pet professionals throughout North America.
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