However, osteoarthritis is common in cats and often goes unrecognised as a source of pain. A cat may not visibly limp despite painful hips or other joints. Comparison with dogs or dismissing signs as old age can therefore delay treatment.
When to see a vet urgently
A sudden hindleg problem is not necessarily an arthritis flare-up. Contact a vet immediately if:
- your cat cannot bear weight or suddenly develops severe pain;
- legs become cold, weak or paralysed;
- signs start after a fall, collision or other injury;
- your cat is also very subdued, feverish or unable to move.
Do not try to bend or straighten a painful hip at home. You can find a vet near you.
Overview
In hip osteoarthritis, cartilage thins and loses elasticity. Bone surfaces begin rubbing against one another, causing pain and restricted movement. Bone spurs, or osteophytes, develop over time, and joint distortion causes lameness and reduced quality of life.
The whole joint changes, not just cartilage. Inflammation and scarring of the capsule lining and changes in bone beneath cartilage can contribute to pain. Restricted hip movement may in turn reduce hindleg use. Its significance is therefore assessed from structure and how the cat moves and manages daily life.
Causes
Hip osteoarthritis develops through several factors:
- Congenital hip dysplasia.
- Injuries, including ligament sprains, fractures and impacts.
- Chronic joint loading associated with obesity and inactivity.
- Inflammatory processes, including arthritis and infections.
- Age-related cartilage changes.
- Genetic susceptibility.
Hip dysplasia and hip osteoarthritis differ. Dysplasia means abnormal joint development, potentially with looseness predisposing to later degeneration. Osteoarthritis can nevertheless develop without identified dysplasia. Nor does every developmental abnormality on X-rays mean immediate surgery is needed.
The origin of feline osteoarthritis often remains partly unclear. Obesity can worsen loading and mobility problems, but canine research cannot directly prove every feline risk factor. Reduced activity may also result from pain rather than simply precede it.
Risk factors
More susceptible cats include:
- Older cats.
- Overweight animals.
- Breeds predisposed to hip dysplasia, including Maine Coons and Persians.
- Cats with previous hip or joint injuries.
- Animals with chronic inflammation.
Possible inherited susceptibility to hip dysplasia does not mean every feline osteoarthritis case arises from the same hereditary disease. Non-pedigree cats can also have hip osteoarthritis. Investigation should therefore not be limited to certain breeds or obviously overweight cats.
Main symptoms
Clinical signs include:
- Lameness, particularly after rest.
- Stiff movement.
- Discomfort when jumping or climbing stairs.
- Pain when the pelvic area is palpated.
- Reduced activity and playfulness.
- Gradual hindleg muscle wasting.
At home, a cat may choose a lower resting place, hesitate before jumping or use intermediate levels instead of one direct jump. It may groom the back and hindquarters less or lick a painful area more. Resistance to handling, hiding and litter tray avoidance can be pain-related signs.
If both hips hurt, obvious one-sided lameness may be absent. Do not test symptoms by forcing jumps. A safely recorded video of ordinary walking or voluntary movement often helps at the appointment, because anxiety can alter behaviour during examination.
Complications and consequences
Without treatment, hip osteoarthritis can lead to:
- Chronic pain.
- Complete loss of joint mobility.
- Marked muscle wasting.
- Reduced quality of life.
Complete immobility is not inevitable. Nevertheless, untreated pain and poor muscle condition can substantially restrict daily life. Treatment aims to allow access to food, water and the litter tray and comfortable, natural resting and movement. Sudden loss of function should not be regarded as ordinary arthritis progression.
Diagnosis at the vet
Diagnosis uses:
- Clinical examination and orthopaedic tests.
- Hip X-rays, the main method.
- CT or MRI to clarify damage extent.
- Blood tests to investigate inflammation.
Examination findings and pain severity
The vet also examines other hindleg joints and the back, because hindquarter mobility difficulty does not reliably locate pain to the hip. Range of movement, muscle mass, gait and handling responses are assessed alongside home observations. Several areas may be painful in the same cat.
X-rays show bone spurs and changes beneath cartilage, for example, but image severity does not directly match pain. A painful joint may look only mildly changed, while visible osteoarthritis may cause few signs. Treatment therefore does not rely on an image alone. CT and MRI are additional tests for selected circumstances, not necessary for every arthritic cat.
Routine blood tests alone do not exclude joint infection. Fever, joint swelling or other abnormal findings may require joint fluid analysis and targeted investigations. Blood tests also assess general health and pain-treatment safety. An arthritis-compatible X-ray must not prevent investigation of another concurrent cause.
Treatment
- A vet prescribes pain relief: suitable feline NSAIDs such as meloxicam or robenacoxib with kidney monitoring, or antibody treatment against nerve growth factor using frunevetmab according to an individual veterinary plan.
- Human medicines, including paracetamol, ibuprofen and acetylsalicylic acid, are toxic to cats.
- Weight reduction in an overweight cat is one of the most effective ways to reduce pain.
- For severe dysplasia, a vet may suggest surgery to remove the femoral head.
- Ramps, a low-entry litter tray and a soft, warm bed help at home.
Medication choice and safety
Medication is tailored to pain, other illnesses and test results. Frunevetmab relieves osteoarthritis pain but does not correct dysplasia or regrow damaged cartilage. Its benefits and risks also need assessment. Itching, hair loss and dermatitis are possible adverse effects to report. Continuing treatment depends on individual response.
NSAIDs can affect the digestive tract, kidneys or liver. Do not add another painkiller or combine products yourself. A vet also decides whether to combine antibody treatment with other pain relief; this is not automatically safe. Report all other medicines and supplements. Reduced eating, vomiting or other abnormalities require contact for further instructions.
Weight, movement and rehabilitation
Weight management for an overweight cat is planned for controlled loss while maintaining adequate nutrition. Sudden fasting or drastic food reduction can be dangerous. A normal-weight cat or one losing muscle should not be slimmed just in case. Weight and muscle condition are monitored separately as treatment progresses.
Offer gentle voluntary movement according to your cat's condition. Long periods of inactivity and pain-related movement avoidance can reduce function, but forcing strenuous exercise does not help a painful joint. Rehabilitation and exercises are assessed individually. There is less feline research on various physical therapies than on many established pain treatments.
Surgery is considered particularly when a local hip problem causes significant pain and medicines and daily adaptations provide insufficient help. Selection depends on hip structure, other illnesses and rehabilitation possibilities. The decision is not based solely on X-ray appearance.
Home arrangements and assessing response
Arrange food, water, resting places and the litter tray so reaching them does not always require jumping or stairs. A ramp or stable intermediate platforms can preserve access to a favourite spot. Soft bedding and an accessible tray support independence. Environmental changes complement pain relief rather than replace it.
Choose ordinary activities to monitor, such as tray access, grooming or climbing onto a particular low platform. Record success before and during treatment. Filming the same activity again helps comparison. Response may appear as more voluntary movement or returning normal behaviour even though X-ray changes remain.
Joint supplements are assessed within the overall plan. Feline evidence is limited and variable, so a supplement does not justify leaving diagnosed pain untreated. Judge benefit using the same daily activities as other treatments.
Prevention
Risk can be reduced through:
- Weight management to prevent obesity.
- Regular but moderate activity.
- Injury prevention through a safe home.
- Early investigation of joint abnormalities in young cats.
- Timely veterinary-directed pain relief; evidence for cartilage-support supplements in cats is limited.
What it means for owners
Hip osteoarthritis is chronic and cannot be completely cured, but progression can be slowed. Remember that timely diagnosis and supportive treatment help maintain mobility and reduce pain, preserving good quality of life in older age.
Treatment can often reduce pain and support function, but not every therapy has been shown to stop joint changes themselves. Recurring pain or new lameness warrants reassessment, rather than simply increasing an old medicine yourself.
This information does not replace treatment instructions. Contact a vet as soon as symptoms appear.
Frequently asked questions
Can a hip hurt without a visible limp?
Yes. A cat may change jumping, grooming or resting-place choices instead. Bilateral pain can appear as general stiffness. A persistent behavioural change deserves investigation.
Is an X-ray enough to assess pain?
No. Image changes and pain do not always correspond. Your observations, examination and treatment response help assess how a joint affects daily life.
Does every cat with dysplasia need surgery?
No. Symptom severity, function and response to other treatments matter alongside structural findings. Many cats benefit from combined pain relief, weight management and home adaptations.
This article is for general information only and is not a guide to treatment. If you notice the first signs of illness, contact your vet.
Paw4care editorial team
Sources
- Joint Disorders in Cats, Merck Veterinary Manual, accessed 2026-11-05.
- Osteoarthritis in Cats, American College of Veterinary Surgeons, accessed 2026-11-05.
- Chronic Pain Assessment in Cats, American Animal Hospital Association, accessed 2026-11-05.
- Osteoarthritis (OA) in Cats, North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, accessed 2026-11-05.
- Degenerative Joint Disease in Cats, Feline Veterinary Medical Association, accessed 2026-11-05.
- SOLENSIA: pakkausseloste, Pharmaca Fennica, accessed 2026-11-05.
- Get the Facts about Pain Relievers for Pets, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, accessed 2026-11-05.
- Obesity, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, accessed 2026-11-05.
- Limping and stiffness in cats, PDSA, accessed 2026-11-05.
