Is my senior cat's difficulty jumping onto furniture normal?

Question

My short hair orange tabby just turned 12. He's always been a nimble kitty who could easily scale a wooden fence to get into the neighbor's yard. Lately I've noticed his jumps onto our average height bed aren't quite as nimble as they used to be. He's successful most of the time, but once in a while it takes two tries. He doesn't seem to be in any outright pain. Do you think this is normal for a cat his age? His appetite is better than ever and his weight seems average. Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Mediumhair | Female | spayed | 12 years old

Sara Farmer, DVM · Accepted Answer

Many cats show signs of osteoarthritis on radiographs as seniors even when they don't seem to be obviously painful. Since this is a recent change I'd recommend seeing your vet for a physical exam. If they agree that your cat may have arthritis they might recommend a joint supplement like Dasuquin or a trial of pain medication to see if it helps with mobility.

Is my senior cat's difficulty jumping onto furniture normal?

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