There is a moment most owners remember later: the cat who used to land on the windowsill in one clean arc now steps onto the chair first. Nothing dramatic happened. Nothing looks broken. The route just changed.
Cats don't limp — they do less
Joint wear is remarkably common in cats: by ten years old, the large majority have changes in at least one joint. But a cat in pain rarely shows it the way a dog does. Instead of limping, they shrink the world a little — fewer jumps, lower perches, shorter play. It reads as «getting older and calmer», which is exactly why it goes unnoticed for years.
What to watch for
- The jump comes in two stages — chair first, then the sill — or your cat picks a lower spot than before.
- A pause before jumping down. Landing hurts more than taking off.
- A dull, slightly matted patch over the back, hips or tail base — twisting round to groom there has become uncomfortable.
- Misses at the litter box, or a cat who stands beside it and hesitates. High sides are a hurdle now.
- More sleeping, less play, less patience for being picked up or brushed.
What helps at home
- Build a staircase: a stool or a box next to the favourite windowsill turns one big jump into two small ones.
- Switch to a litter tray with one low side, and put it where there are no stairs between your cat and the box.
- Warm, draught-free beds, and a soft rug on any slippery floor your cat lands on.
- Keep the weight steady. Every extra hundred grams is carried by those same sore joints — and weight is the one factor entirely in your hands.
Worth a vet visit
Joint pain in cats is treatable, and today's options are far better than they were even a few years ago. Never give a cat human painkillers: paracetamol and ibuprofen are poisonous to cats even in a small dose. A short phone video of your cat jumping up to their favourite spot and back down is often the most useful thing you can bring to the appointment.
Write down what you notice, with dates: «stopped using the top shelf», «two-stage jump onto the sill». In six months that note will tell the vet far more than memory.
