Why is my senior cat suddenly struggling to jump and showing leg pain?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Cat | Maine Coon | Male | neutered | 11 lbs
Several days ago my cat suddeenly showed trouble jumping to any height.He is 16 but literally was flying around the house earlier that day as he often does.He still does manage to jump onto the bed and a table (2-3ft high) but clearly hesitates and sometimes fails.He has no history of medical issues and is otherwise behaving normally.Areas of hind right thigh muscle in particular react with apparent tenderness/“vibrating” when I gently massage.No swelling.Issue hasn’t improved or worsened. Thk u
3 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on April 26th, 2020
At his age, he likely has some arthritis. I suggest you get him started on a joint supplement. https://worldtails.securevetsource.com/itemView/view/198944_HomeDelivery.pml?productId=120626 Give it a good 4-6 weeks to see if it helps him. If not, then please post again and we'll see if we can give you some more suggestions.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on March 19th, 2017
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.
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on February 21st, 2018
We actually see arthritis very commonly in cats, so I would recommend having your veterinarian examine Abby and talk about treatment options. One of my favorite treatment options for cats is Adequan injections (even though it is only licensed for dogs and horses). Cats tend to do very well with Adequan injections, and they only need to be given once a month after an initial series. I am attaching a link to handout that talks about medication and treatment options for arthritis below. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=587 Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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