Feline Osteoarthritis Checklist

Osteoarthritis pain can be a serious health problem for your cat. And cats hide almost everything, especially pain. You know your cat’s playful ways and what she loves better than anyone. Changes in these behaviours could be signs of osteoarthritis pain. Your veterinarian relies on you to report changes in your cat’s behaviour for more accurate diagnoses. If it is found that your cat is showing signs of OA-related pain, helping your cat begins by talking to us at HIGHlands Veterinary Hospital.

This checklist will help your veterinary team identify your cat’s activities and behaviours that might be signs of osteoarthritis (OA), a degenerative joint disease that can be painful. Please note: any fields with * are required.

Today's Date(Required)

DD slash MM slash YYYY

Owner's Details

Owner's Name(Required)

First Last

Email(Required)

Phone(Required)

Pet's Details

Pet's Name(Required)

Species of Pet(Required)

Breed of Pet(Required)

Pet's Age(Required)

Sex(Required)

Male

Female

Desexed?(Required)

Yes

Is your cat showing signs of OA-related pain? Think about your cat's activity in the past week. Check all of the signs that you’ve observed in your cat.

Climbing up stairs: uses ‘bunny-hop’, with both back legs hopping at same time, and/or stops for a break.

Climbing down stairs: angles body to the side, descends one stair at a time, and/or stops for a break.

Chasing moving objects: slows down or takes breaks during play and/or may have thinner frame near the tail.

Jumping up: hesitates before jumping up, doesn’t clear jumps in one leap, and/or uses arms to pull the legs up.

Jumping down: hesitates before jumping down, makes smaller jumps vs. one big one and/or reaches down towards the ground instead of leaping.

Running: moves at a slower speed and alternates between jogging & walking, and/or back feet angle together.

OA has both physical and emotional aspects.

Just as in humans, chronic pain negatively impacts your cat’s quality of life, not just physically, but also emotionally. The good news is that by identifying your cat’s condition, you and your veterinarian can develop a treatment plan for your cat.

A recent peer-reviewed published study demonstrated the initial validity and reliability of a quality of life assessment for chronic diseases, such as osteoarthritis, in cats. Using these questions, you can help your veterinarian assess and monitor how well your cat’s chronic pain management treatment is working.

Think about your cat’s behavior in the past week and help us determine a starting point by completing the following questions.

On a scale of 0-6 (6 being the best), please rate your pet on the below behaviors.

Is your cat energetic and enthusiastic?(Required)

0 - My cat couldn't be less

6 - My cat couldn't be more

Is your cat active and comfortable?(Required)

0 - My cat couldn't be less

6 - My cat couldn't be more

Is your cat happy and content?(Required)

0 - My cat couldn't be less

6 - My cat couldn't be more

Has your cat’s personality and sociability changed?(Required)

Yes

If yes, please explain(Required)

Has your cat’s urination or defecation habits changed?(Required)

Yes

If yes, please explain(Required)

Is your cat hiding more or does your cat seem to be “slowing down”?(Required)

Yes

OA pain can affect cats of any age, and it has been seen in more than 60% of cats that are 6 years or older. If left untreated, the pain can become worse over time. This checklist is designed to help with the recognition of OA pain to help keep your cat happy and active. Your veterinary team will review the results of this checklist with you to identify if your cat might be suffering from OA. This checklist is not a medical diagnostic tool and is not intended to replace discussion with an animal healthcare professional. Please discuss medical concerns with us.

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Braemar NSW 2575, Australia

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