My senior cat struggles to jump and shakes. What can I give for pain?

Question

I have a 13 year old Mainecoon male cat and he's been having difficulty jumping up and down on things. I have baby gates in 2 areas of my house as I have 2 toddlers and he's never had problems getting over them before but the last week he's meowing and waits for me to lift him over. He also seems to shake on his front legs and lift them alternately as if in discomfort. Is there anything I can give him for discomfort? Pet's info: Cat | Maine Coon | Male | neutered | 13 years old | 15 lbs

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA · Accepted Answer

Poor Bailey! I'm sorry to hear the he's having trouble. It does sound like he may be painful for some reason, making it hard for him to jump - cats can develop arthritis as they get older, but it's also possible that he has an injury of some kind. Unfortunately, there are no human over-the-counter pain medications that are safe for cats, so there isn't anything you can give him without a vet visit. I would recommend taking him to the vet for an exam when you are able to - he/she can do x-rays or other testing if needed to help determine the problem, and will prescribe safe and effective pain medication for him if necessary.

My senior cat struggles to jump and shakes. What can I give for pain?

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