Do you have an aging cat? Are they gaining weight? Are they less active?
These are all concerns for cat parents as they are indicators that your cat is headed in the wrong direction health wise and may suffer from arthritis in the future.
In a Hurry? Here are Our Top Choices
Osteoarthritis in cats is a common issue, especially in older cats. It is estimated that 90 percent of cats aged 12 or over suffer from arthritis. With better healthcare and medication for pets, our pets can live a longer life than ever before, but this means they face age related health issues over time.
Prevention is better than cure and it is important for cat parents to take action before it is too late. Modern joint supplements for cats can help improve joint health and decrease the likelihood of your cat having arthritis in their latter years.
The 4 Best Joint Supplements for Cats
With a multitude of available options, it is easy to get confused. We have made the effort to select some of the best joint supplements for cats available today. These supplements will help your cat have healthy joints for longer.
1. Nutramax Laboratories Cosequin Tablet for Cats
Cosequin is a joint health supplement for cats from the Nutramax Laboratories. It comes in capsules containing the supplement in powder form. These capsules are manufactured in labs that follow standards that are similar to pharmaceutical companies.
This product is made in USA using globally sourced products. Each capsule contains 125 milligrams FCHG49 Glucosamine and 100 milligrams TRH122 Chondroitin Sulfate derived from bovine cartilage. These active ingredients promote joint health improvement and maintenance in your cat.
Simply open a capsule and sprinkle over your cat’s meal, add water if the meal is dry food so that the powder sticks to the meal. Use as frequently as directed on the packaging or by your vet.
This product comes highly recommended by vets who recommend supplements for cats with joint problems and will certainly help improve and maintain your cat’s joint health.
2. Super Snouts Joint Power
Joint Power by Super Snouts is another product that comes highly recommended by vets. It contains 100% nutracuetical-grade Green Lipped Mussel Powder from the pristine waters of New Zealand, it contains a rich, complex blend of natural proteins, minerals and amino acids.
This 100% natural product contains high levels of naturally occurring Glucosamine and Chondroiten Sulphate to maintain flexible, pain free joints in your cat. The Green Lipped Mussel in it is always cold processed to allow for better body absorption.
The natural ingredients in Joint Power help support healthy joints, ligaments and tendons in your cat’s body. They also help support normal heart, brain, eye and skin health in your cat.
The best part about this product is that a portion of the profits are donated to helping rescue homeless pets. This product will help support your cat’s joint health and save other pets in need of rescuing at the same time.
3. Pure Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil for Dogs & Cats
Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil from Zesty Paws is a premium and delicious natural fish oil additive supplement that provides supreme nourishment for your cat. It helps support the skin, coat, hips as well as the joints, heart, and immune system of your cat.
The rich Omegas in Salmon Oil help aid hip, joint, heart and immune function to keep your cat feeling lively and active every day and keep them in great shape.
The natural Omega fatty acids in Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil help promote overall hip and joint health to keep the spring in your cat’s step. Additionally, they help promote healthy skin and coat on your cat along with healthy cardiovascular function and a healthy immune system response.
This is a nourishing supplement for cat parents looking for an alternative to capsules, raw treats or soft chews, all it takes is a few pumps of Salmon Oil to mix nicely with your cat’s food.
4. Nutramax Dasuquin Capsules
Dasuquin is another product from Nutramax on this list that is a joint health supplement for cats. Formulated with glucosamine and chondroitin, it is one of the most complete joint support supplements available in the market today.
Cell culture studies show that the ingredients of Dasuquin help stimulate the production of some cartilage components and help inhibit cartilage breakdown. The Avacado/Soybean Unsaponifiables (ASU) adds to the cartilage protection and joint support provided by glucosamine chondriotin sulfate.
The decaffeinated green tea extracts in this supplement are rich in antioxidants that help to protect joint tissues from oxidative stress. These supplements come in capsule form that you can sprinkle on your cat’s food.
Our Final Thoughts
The supplements mentioned here are all excellent for improving your cat’s joint health and feature added benefits for your cat’s overall health. Using any of these will help your cat keep their joints pain-free and healthy for longer.
Cats tend to not show immediate or prominent signs and symptoms for arthritis. It is important for cat parents to keep an eye out for subtle behavioral changes like:
- Reluctance to move, play or hunt
- Being unable to jump up or down or hesitation before jumping
- Difficulty going up or down the stairs
- Difficulty using high sided litter trays
- Sleeping more and moving less
- Less time grooming (poor coat condition)
- Over-grooming painful joints
- Aggression due to joint pains
Arthritis in cats is commonly found in their hips, elbows, shoulders and spine, often with multiple of these joints being affected simultaneously.
If you see these signs in your cat or if they seem to be gaining weight or seem less active, then it is a good idea to introduce some joint supplements to their diet. Older cats especially should be given these supplements as they are more prone to developing osteoarthritis over time.
Although the products mentioned here are all over the counter (OTC) supplements, it is always better to consult your vet before adding or changing anything in your cat’s diet. Most likely your vet will approve, if not recommend, that you use these supplements unless they see a strong reason not to.
We hope you liked our selection of the best joint supplements for cats.
