There’s a lot of joy to be had as our cats mature, from learning the hidden intricacies of their personalities to anticipating their often very particular needs. We must be vigilant cat parents despite all the bonding. This is crucial to ensure our cats age comfortably.
Ninety percent of cats aged over 12 years suffer from arthritis. This is a general term that refers to conditions that cause tissue and joint inflammation. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative type of arthritis that causes inflammation, deterioration and damage to the joints. This condition is common in both overweight and older cats. OA requires us to be sharp-eyed, always observing and interpreting our cat’s behaviors.
Emma, a reader of ours, shared her journey with OA (and her cat) Here’s what Emma told us…
My cat got OA and became moody and began to lose weight. These changes in my cat’s behavior were not due to her advanced age. I mistakenly assumed they were natural. Little did I know that weight loss and moodiness are two common symptoms of OA — along with loss of appetite, hesitation to jump up and down, and urinating outside of the litter box.
At this point you may be thinking, “Wait…these symptoms sound familiar!” Unfortunately, feline diseases often manifest in similar ways, which makes it very hard to distinguish between conditions and figure out what our silent sufferers are truly feeling.
To make matters worse, OA can often affect joints bilaterally. This means that pain in the same joint will be felt on both sides. Bilateral pain makes it easy for cats to compensate and trick us into thinking they’re walking normally. After I suspected that my own cat was suffering from OA, I watched her movements closely, looking for any sign of lameness–but she never gave me any indication that she was in pain (I later found out that she did in fact have OA in her elbows). My cat, like many cats, only revealed her pain through subtle changes in routine and personality.
We love cats for their cleverness, but sometimes their secretiveness can be to their disadvantage. What can we do? We must be vigilant pet owners. If your pet shows any change in behavior, it’s probably time for a visit to the vet.
OA Treatment Options
We all know how difficult it is to treat cats suffering from chronic pain. It is difficult to treat chronic pain in cats with no approved NSAIDs and because of the difficulties we have with pilling them. Luckily, there are great alternative options out there–they just require us to do our research! As I was looking at all the alternative treatments, I noticed one that stood out: The Assisi Loop Lounge.
Assisi loop products: Perfect for Feline Sensibilities
You may have already heard about Assisi Animal Health’s line of anti-inflammatory devices from your fellow cat parents. Assisi’s targeted pulsed electromagnetic field (tPEMF™) therapy encourages the production of nitric oxide, which in turn stimulates the body’s natural anti-inflammatory healing processes. I’ve found that cat parents are especially outspoken about tPEMF therapy because these devices are both non-pharmaceutical and non-invasive, making them perfect for our notoriously sensitive and strong-willed feline companions.
Assisi Loop products are especially well-suited to cats because they can be very mercurial. My cat loves to lie next to me and allow me to place the Loop under her, but there are times when she wants her own space. These days she will often run to my bedroom. When she’s feeling this way, I simply place the
Lay down on my bed, and let her get her therapy.
Many cats will accept the Assisi Loop being placed on their bodies for treatment, but mine doesn’t like it. As she ages, she is becoming a little more irritable–she wants to be pampered more, and I don’t blame her! I started using the Assisi Lounge Lounge, a therapy pad that uses the same tPEMF technology as the original Assisi loop.
My Loop Lounge is one of the reasons my cat likes it. It restores her autonomy, which is especially important in her later years. I can see her feeling the limitations of her old age in her daily life. She is more dependent on me. Sometimes that’s a good thing, but other times, I can’t help her feel better all on
My own. I reach for her Assisi Loop Lounge in these moments.
The Assisi Loop Lounge has become my go-to product for all my cat’s ailments. If I think she’s in pain, it’s time for a Loop Lounge session. The Loop Lounge offers a full-body treatment that is essential for OA cats. This is because OA often occurs in multiple locations–most commonly the elbows, hips, vertebrae, and sternum.
According to the FDA, a study showed that 28 percent of cats with OA had the disease both in their limbs, 32 percent had OA only in their vertebrae. Twenty-eight percent had OA in both.
Only their limbs will be affected by OA. My cat is so fidgety, but I don’t worry about this with the Loop Lounge–she can fidget all she likes and the treatment will still reach her front limbs and vertebrae (the locations where our vet says she has OA). The Loop Lounge can also be recharged so you don’t have to worry about it going out.
The Loop Lounge can also help with any other inflammatory conditions in your cat’s body. This is especially helpful if your cat has dental issues, since these are quite tricky to spot–and even more difficult to treat. Assisi loop therapy devices are also known to relax pets by providing a subtle warmth. During treatment, my cat falls asleep often!
You can even purchase the Assisi Loop Lounge in the form a carrier! Assisi Animal Health can purchase the Sleepypod Atom and Air carriers. These carriers have tPEMF therapy equipment embedded in their bases. The Sleepypod Air has been particularly handy for me when on trips because I don’t travel without my cat (how could I?!). My cat can get her treatments wherever she is, so I don’t miss out on any important Loop sessions. I also use my Sleepypod carrier to transport my cat to the vet, because I find that the therapy helps calm her down before the stress of a doctor’s visit. As we know all too well, cat’s are particularly difficult patients–so anything that makes these appointments a little easier is a big deal!
There are no substitutes for the basics. Make sure your cat is active and eating a healthy diet. We can make our feline friends’ golden years pain-free by keeping them active and motivated. I hope tPEMF therapy can also help your cat.
Let the healing begin!
