My cat has Osteoarthritis, any advice?

Question

My cat was just diagnosed with Osteoarthritis. I got her to the vet early, so she doesn't need any medication yet, and I got a special type of food to give her. Now I wonder if there is some way to make things less painful for her or if anyone has some experience with it. And should I still let her go outside? She loves being outside when the weather is nice, so I feel a little mean if I make her stay in.

(She's 11 years old, not overweight and of mixed breed)

Answer 1

Cats with OA like the sun because of warmth. Make her life easier with a raised water and food bowl, make sure the litter pan is low enough to get into comfortably. Stairs to get up to the bed or couch are nice. She may need everything down on the floor to protect her from hurting herself in trying to jump. They make supplements with glucosamine and/or MSM- ask your vet. Just treat her gently and be aware for signs of pain. Keep her warm. They make heat-reflecting beds too which are nice. She is a senior now so treat her like grandma. The symptoms will depend on the location of the arthritis. I bought a mousse-like topical arthritis cream that I applied to my girl's back at Petsmart- it seemed to help.