05/06/2026
Let's Talk About It โ Arthritis
We would love to see photos & hear some stories in the comments of your senior feline!
Note: we are not veterinarians, this post has been made with the knowledge we personally have heard regarding feline arthritis.
Solensia; our #1 recommendation for arthritic cats!
We have had a total of four resident cats receive Solensia during their time with us, and it is an amazing medication. Be sure to ask your veterinarian for their thoughts if you have an arthritic feline in your life to see whether they recommend it as part of your kitty's treatment plan.
๐Facts & Stats๐
Arthritis affects approximately 90% of senior cats aged 10 years and older.
Some signs of arthritis include poor grooming, mobility issues, difficulty retracting claws, and behavioural changes such as becoming grumpy when handled or touched.
Cats are fantastic at hiding their pain, so keep an eye out for subtle changes. See the link below for a helpful checklist by Zoetis:
https://www2.zoetis.co.nz/content/_assets/PDFs/Solensia/feline-oa-checklist-print.pdf
Arthritis can be managed with a combination of veterinary guidance, medications (prescribed by your vet!), environmental adjustments, supplementation (ask your vet first!), and weight management.
โ๏ธChonky Isn't Cute! โ๏ธ
Obesity in cats is far too common in New Zealand. Excess weight places more strain on the joints, so if your vet considers your kitty to be overweight, ask them about a weight management plan โ Resident Squeak is not a great example of ideal weight management! She has struggled with excess weight since we adopted her. She has been on a weight management plan, her food is strictly monitored, and she has regular vet checks and weigh-ins. She is still on the chonky side of normal, which isn't ideal; however, we have done everything we can to keep her at a healthy and manageable weight.
๐ ๏ธ Let's Get to the Technical Stuff ๐ ๏ธ
Solensia is a monoclonal antibody that inhibits nerve growth factor (NGF). NGF is a protein involved in the pain-signalling process associated with osteoarthritis in cats.
โ๏ธโ๐ฅ A Breakdown โ๏ธโ๐ฅ
Solensia is a laboratory-made protein that is feline-specific (only intended for use in cats).
Essentially, it works by preventing more of the protein responsible for osteoarthritic pain from activating pain pathways.
๐๏ธ Key Points ๐๏ธ
Solensia does not stop the progression of arthritis and should ideally be used in conjunction with an appropriate joint-support supplement. Ask your veterinarian for suitable recommendations.
PSA: Always consult a veterinary professional rather than a pet store sales assistant or a neighbour who seems to know everything! Veterinary guidance is extremely important and should be the first step when tailoring a pain management plan.
Now for Our Grumpy Old Lady, Squeak's Story
Squeak is very much loved by everyone who has the privilege of meeting her. "Queen Squeak" has stolen many hearts since joining the family! Widely known for her "resting bleep face," she's an absolute character and adored by everyone here.
Miss Squeak was diagnosed with arthritis and mild hip dysplasia yeeeeaaars ago (back when dinosaurs were still around โwe joke! ๐ฆ). She was placed on a pain management plan straight away.
At the time, I had heard great things about Solensia; unfortunately, it wasn't yet available in New Zealand. As soon as it became available, we requested a treatment plan that included Solensia, and what a fabulous decision that was! She has never been so mobile.
Our grumpy old dinosaur ๐ฆ makes her way to the clinic every month for her Solensia injection, and the results for Squeak's wellbeing have been phenomenal.
๐ Other Resident Stories ๐
๐Palliative Care Intake โ Grim๐
We took in Grim knowing that she didnโt have long to live, so we decided to keep her as a resident.
She was taken to our veterinarian and was started on Solensia straight away. Sadly, Grim was only with us for two short months before taking her journey over the Rainbow Bridge ๐.
We were privileged to provide Grim with a loving home for her final days, where she was treated as family, kept as comfortable and pain-free as possible, surrounded by people who loved her. At the end of her journey, she left behind a Flawless Paws Whฤnua who deeply grieved her loss.
๐Sara๐
Sara was on Solensia for a short period, which noticeably helped with her discomfort.
Interestingly, Sara also suffered from stomatitis, a painful inflammatory dental condition. There have been some cases where Solensia has been used off-label to help manage pain associated with this disease โ Would love to hear any thoughts on this if youโre a veterinary professional! We mention this purely as an interesting observationโnothing should be used off-label without the recommendation of a veterinarian.
Sadly, our sweet Sara has since joined Grim and our other former resident kitties over the Rainbow Bridge ๐
๐งจ Sadie โ Our Firecracker! ๐งจ
Sadie, our resident with the shortest fuse, was started on Solensia under the guidance of the team at Companion Vets Ltd (The clinic we use exclusively for our resident cats).
Sadie was a real grump! She was constantly packing a wobbly and swiping with all claws extended whenever she felt even slightly disrespected.
After starting Solensia, she became a whole new kitty with a much-improved attitude! Her tantrums became far less frequent, which we attribute to her pain being better managed.
She is no longer on Solensia and is now following a different treatment plan as directed by her veterinary team.
For those who don't know Sadie, she is a hind-limb amputee, which can increase the risk of developing joint disease.
๐Though we do fact check, we canโt confirm that all details in this post contain current and up to date data๐
