A cat with arthritis should eat a complete and balanced food, in measured portions, that keeps them lean and has enough protein to protect muscle.
Food can't cure arthritis, but a healthy weight and strong muscle take pressure off sore joints. If your cat has started to slow down, food is one thing you can change today.
This guide shows what to feed a cat with arthritis, how to set portions, and which mistakes to avoid.
Key Takeaways
What Food Can (and Can't) Do for a Cat with Arthritis
The right food can help a cat with arthritis, but it can't cure it. Food works best alongside the pain care your vet prescribes.
Arthritis is very common in cats.
The Merck Veterinary Manual says about 60% of all cats, and over 90% of cats older than 12, have degenerative joint disease.
A good cat arthritis diet has three jobs:
- Keep your cat lean: Less weight means less strain on sore joints.
- Protect muscle: Strong muscle helps hold a joint steady.
- Add omega-3s: These fats from fish oil have the most research supporting joint health.
One caution before you change anything: Cats hide pain, so arthritis often goes underrecognized in cats, and lameness may be less obvious than you'd expect.
Look for these changes instead:
- Less Jumping: Hesitates to jump or can’t reach favorite spots.
- Litter Box Accidents: Urinates or poops outside the litter box.
- Less Grooming: Neglects grooming, especially hard-to-reach areas.
- Moving Slowly: Struggles to get up, avoids stairs, or plays less.
If you notice any of these, see your vet before changing your cat's food. Our guide to arthritis in cats covers more signs and causes.
What to Look for in Food for a Cat with Arthritis
A cat with arthritis should eat a complete and balanced food with enough protein and calories that suit the cat's weight. Fish-oil omega-3s and a texture your cat likes are worth considering too. The sections below show how to check each one.
"Complete and Balanced" on the Label
A complete and balanced cat food has all the nutrients a cat needs. The label should say the food is "formulated to meet" nutrient standards for a life stage, such as adult maintenance or all life stages.
Some labels say "animal feeding tests" proved it instead. Skip foods labeled for supplemental feeding only as a main diet.
The word "senior" on the bag isn't enough. The groups that set pet food standards in the US and Europe have no standard just for senior pets. So read the fine print.
Before you buy, check this.
- Does a qualified nutritionist formulate the food?
- Can you share a full nutrient analysis?
Protein: Why Less Isn't Better
A cat with arthritis needs plenty of good protein, not less. Older cats lose muscle with age, starting as early as age 7, and protein helps them hold on to it. Don't cut protein unless your vet tells you to.
A Veterinary Focus review says about 20% of mature and senior cats digest protein less well. It adds that a reduced-protein diet may raise the risk of muscle loss.
Muscle loss is easy to miss, because a cat can look round and still be losing muscle. Run your hands along your cat's spine and hips. If the bones feel prominent, with little muscle on top, mention it to your vet.
If your cat is losing weight without dieting, see your vet. Illnesses like an overactive thyroid and diabetes can cause it. They need a diagnosis, not a new food.
Senior food to consider: Hill's Science Diet Senior 7+ Dry Cat Food, Chicken Recipe
- Good for: cats aged 7 and older at a healthy weight that need help keeping muscle. It isn't a joint diet.
- What's in it: chicken as the first ingredient, 31.4% protein (measured without the water), fish oil, and 490 calories per cup.
- On the label: it says feeding tests show the food is complete and balanced for adult cats.
- Worth knowing: it's high in calories, so measure carefully. If you mix it with wet food, count both. It contains soybean oil and wheat, so check with your vet if your cat has sensitivities or is over 11.
Omega-3s for Cat Arthritis: What the Research Shows
Fish-oil omega-3s may help cats with arthritis. They have more research behind them than any other joint nutrient, but the evidence in cats is still limited. Ask your vet before adding one.
Omega-3s are healthy fats, and the two that matter most, EPA and DHA, come from fish oil.
- What supports it: in the 2022 review, 18 of 20 omega-3 trials in dogs and cats eased pain or improved signs. Both cat trials found less pain.
- What's less sure: only 2 of those 20 trials were in cats. The Merck Veterinary Manual also says the evidence for diets rich in the omega-3 DHA isn't clear in cats.
If your vet says yes, check the label:
- Fish oil or salmon oil: These give EPA and DHA directly. Tufts University advises fish oil over flax or other plant omega-3s for dogs and cats.
- EPA and DHA amounts: "Total omega-3" doesn't show how much is EPA and DHA. Ask the maker or your vet.
- Calories: Fish oil adds calories, so count it in your cat's daily total.
- No doubling up: More isn't better. Check with your vet before adding fish oil to a food or supplement that already has omega-3s.
Wet Food or Dry Food for Cats with Arthritis
Neither wet nor dry food is better for every cat with arthritis, and many do best on a mix. What matters is that your cat eats well, drinks enough and gets measured portions.
Cats evolved to get their moisture from food rather than from drinking. Wet food adds water to every meal. That doesn't treat arthritis, but it supports an older cat's overall health.
|
Wet food |
Dry food |
|
|
Water |
About 70 to 80% (the Evanger's recipe below lists up to 78%) |
About 10% |
|
Texture |
Soft and easy to chew |
Crunchy and firmer |
|
Calories |
Fewer per ounce, because of the water |
More per ounce, so measure carefully |
Wet food can look like a bigger portion, but the calories still count. Weigh whatever you feed.
If your cat is picky, try these:
- Warm it a little. A few seconds in the microwave, stirred well, brings out the smell. Check for hot spots.
- Mix textures. Stir a spoonful of wet food into kibble, or add warm water to dry food.
- Try another texture. Some cats like pâté, others prefer chunks or shreds.
If your cat suddenly eats less, don't just keep trying new foods. Older cats often have dental problems, and illness can cut appetite too. Call your vet if your cat skips meals for a day or more.
Wet food to consider: Evanger's EVX Restricted Diet Senior & Joint Health Salmon Recipe Wet Cat Food
- Good for: cats that like a soft, smooth pâté.
- What's in it: salmon and chicken, glucosamine and chondroitin, 9% minimum protein, 78% maximum moisture, and 142 calories per can.
How Much to Feed a Cat with Arthritis (and Why Weight Matters)
A cat with arthritis should eat enough to stay at a healthy weight, and that amount is different for every cat. Your vet can help set a healthy target weight and daily calorie goal for your cat.
Extra weight adds strain to the joints. It is advised to keep cats with arthritis at a lean body weight to reduce other health risks.
Weight Loss for Cats with Arthritis: Where to Start
An overweight cat with arthritis should lose weight, slowly and under a vet’s supervision. The usual goal is a body condition score of 4 or 5 out of 9, which the American Animal Hospital Association treats as ideal. That's a rating of how lean or heavy a cat is.
You can check at home by shape, not just the number on the scale:
- From above, you should see a waist behind the ribs.
- From the side, the belly should tuck up behind the ribs.
- By touch, you should feel the ribs under a thin layer of fat.
|
Score |
Group |
What you see and feel |
|
1 |
Under ideal |
Ribs visible on short-haired cats, no fat you can feel, severe belly tuck |
|
2 |
Under ideal |
Ribs easily visible, spine obvious, pronounced belly tuck, no fat you can feel |
|
3 |
Under ideal |
Ribs easy to feel under minimal fat, obvious waist, little belly fat |
|
4 |
Ideal (AAHA) |
Ribs felt under minimal fat, noticeable waist, slight belly tuck, no belly fat pad |
|
5 |
Ideal |
Well proportioned, waist behind the ribs, ribs felt under slight fat, minimal belly fat pad |
|
6 |
Over ideal |
Ribs felt under slightly extra fat, waist and belly fat pad visible but not obvious, no belly tuck |
|
7 |
Over ideal |
Ribs hard to feel under moderate fat, waist hard to see, rounded belly, moderate fat pad |
|
8 |
Over ideal |
Ribs can’t be felt, no waist, rounded belly with a prominent fat pad, fat over the lower back |
|
9 |
Over ideal |
Ribs can’t be felt under heavy fat, fat on the lower back, face, and legs, swollen belly, no waist |
Ask your vet to confirm the score and set a target weight.
A Safe Pace for Weight Loss
A cat can safely lose about 0.5 to 2% of its body weight per week. For a 10-pound cat, that's about one to three ounces. Faster loss can cause fatty liver disease, which is serious.
Fast loss also costs muscle, which sore joints need. Losing more than 2% a week is more likely to cause muscle loss than fat loss. Never crash-diet a cat, and call your vet promptly if yours stops eating.
Measuring Portions and Counting Calories
To control your cat's calories, measure every portion and count every extra:
- Weigh each meal: Use a kitchen scale instead of a scoop.
- Feed for ideal weight: Ask your vet how much your cat should eat based on their target weight.
- Count every bite: Treats, toppers and table scraps add calories to your cat’s daily intake.
- Adjust as needed: Weight loss may slow so your vet may need to adjust portions over time.
- Be patient: Weight loss takes time. Work with your vet to set realistic goals and maintain progress.
Weight-control food to consider: Hill's Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Dry Cat Food
- Good for: adult cats your vet says need to lose weight. It isn't for kittens, or for thin cats that are losing muscle.
- What's in it: 40% protein and 315 calories per cup.
- Worth knowing: measure it, switch gradually, and follow your vet's target weight.
What Not to Give a Cat with Arthritis
Avoid anything that works against a lean weight and strong muscle. The three most common traps for a cat with arthritis are too many treats, homemade recipes without expert help, and human pain relievers.
Treats: How Many Is Too Many
Treats should make up no more than 10% of a cat's daily calories, says the American Animal Hospital Association. Above that, treats can throw off the food's nutrient balance. For example, a cat that needs 200 calories a day can have at most 20 calories of treats. If your cat eats a prescription diet, ask your vet before adding any.
There's no official standard for arthritis-friendly treats. A good treat is small, low in calories, and counted. A few pieces of your cat's regular food work well too.
Homemade Diets: Why to Be Careful
Homemade diets are risky for a cat with arthritis without expert help. A UC Davis study collected 114 homemade cat recipes. Only 94 had enough detail to analyze, and none of those 94 met all of an adult cat's essential nutrient needs. Recipes written by vets had fewer gaps, and some recipes included ingredients that could be toxic to cats.
If you'd like to cook for your cat, work with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist.
Human Pain Relievers Are Never Safe for Cats
Never give your cat human pain relievers. The University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine says acetaminophen should never be given to a cat. It adds that pain medications are among the most toxic human medicines for dogs and cats.
If your cat seems sore, call your vet. Your vet can prescribe pain medicines made for cats, so there are safe options.
Joint Supplements for Cats with Arthritis: What the Research Says
The evidence for glucosamine and chondroitin in cats with arthritis is weak, while omega-3s have stronger support. Many joint supplements are built around glucosamine and chondroitin, sometimes with omega-3s. Ask your vet whether your cat needs one.
If your vet agrees, check for overlap first. Some foods already contain joint ingredients. For example, Evanger's food has glucosamine and chondroitin, so a Cosequin capsule would add more of both. Tell your vet about every food, treat, and supplement before you add another.
Want to compare options? Our guides to the best cat joint supplements and Cosequin vs. Dasuquin for cats can help.
Joint supplement to consider: Nutramax Cosequin Senior Joint Health Supplement for Cats
- Good for: cats whose vet has agreed to a joint supplement trial.
- What's in it: glucosamine, chondroitin, and a blend of fats from sea sources with omega-3s, in sprinkle capsules.
- Worth knowing: the maker lists 16.5 mg of total omega-3s per capsule. Ask your vet if that's enough for your cat. Follow your vet's directions on how much to give.
How to Switch Your Cat to a New Food Safely
Switch a cat to a new food gradually, over at least one week. Add a little more new food every couple of days. Cats are cautious eaters, and a sudden change can upset the stomach.
|
Days |
Old food |
New food |
|
1 to 3 |
75% |
25% |
|
4 to 5 |
50% |
50% |
|
6 to 7 |
25% |
75% |
|
8 |
0% |
100% |
What to Do If Your Cat Struggles With New Food
- Slow down if stools get loose. Return to the last food mix your cat handled well, then switch more gradually.
- Offer both foods separately. Place the old and new foods in separate bowls to see which your cat prefers.
- Never force a food change. If your cat refuses the new food, offer their usual food and contact your vet if they stop eating.
- Call your vet if symptoms continue. Seek advice if vomiting or diarrhea persists.
- Introduce one change at a time. Avoid starting a new food and supplement together.
- Check before changing prescription food. Follow your vet’s instructions if your cat eats a special diet.
Signs the New Food Is Working
A new food is working when you see small changes over weeks like steadier weight and easier movement. Cats hide arthritis pain well, so watch what your cat chooses to do:
- Weight: track your cat’s weight using the same scale and time of day.
- Movement: note jumps up and down, stairs, getting up after naps, grooming, and play.
- Eating and drinking: note appetite changes and finished meals.
A short video once a week makes changes easier to see. Safe weight loss takes months so give a new food or supplement several weeks before you judge it. When you see your vet, bring your notes and videos.
Choosing the Best Cat Food for Arthritis
There's no single best cat food for arthritis, because the right one depends on your cat's weight, age, and health. Use the table below to find a starting point, then check it with your vet.
|
If your cat is |
Start with |
Recommended Products |
|
An adult with extra weight, and your vet agrees on a target |
A calorie-controlled adult food, measured and switched gradually |
|
|
Age 7 or older, at a healthy weight, and at risk of losing muscle |
A complete and balanced senior food with enough protein |
|
|
Picky, fond of soft food, or not drinking much |
A pâté wet food, mixed with or instead of dry |
|
|
Already on a good diet, with a vet open to a joint supplement |
A supplement trial, with overlap checked first |
|
|
Thin, losing weight without a diet change, or not improving |
A vet exam first, then a question about a prescription diet |
Prescription cat food (needs your vet's okay) |
Prescription Diets for Cat Arthritis: When to Ask Your Vet
Ask your vet about a prescription diet when the basic steps aren't enough or your cat has other health problems. A prescription diet (also called a therapeutic diet) is a veterinary food made for a medical condition. Your vet guides how it's used.
- Your cat has arthritis and extra weight. Some prescription diets target both.
- Your cat has another condition, like kidney disease, diabetes, or an overactive thyroid. A joint diet may not fit.
- Your cat is thin or losing muscle. That needs an exam first.
- You've tried the basics and want to know what else is reasonable.
Prescription joint diets are made for osteoarthritis, and some also help with weight control. Over-the-counter senior foods aren't the same as a prescription diet.
Getting a Prescription Diet
A prescription diet is sold with your vet's prescription. You can browse HardyPaw's prescription cat food to see what's available, and your vet will say which one, if any, fits.
Ask whether treats and supplements are still fine. Extras add calories and can change what your cat gets from the diet.
Questions to Bring to Your Vet
Ask your vet these six questions about your cat's diet:
- What are my cat's body condition and muscle scores, and what's a safe target weight?
- How many calories a day should my cat eat, including treats?
- Is a higher-protein senior food right for my cat, given blood and kidney results?
- Should we try an omega-3 product or a prescription joint diet, and how much?
- Which foods and supplements are safe to combine?
- When should we recheck weight and movement?
When to Call Your Vet
Call your vet if your cat with arthritis shows any of these signs:
- Not eating. Cats that go without food for a few days can develop fatty liver disease, and overweight cats are at higher risk, says the University of Illinois. Call as soon as your cat stops eating.
- Ongoing vomiting or diarrhea.
- Weight loss without a diet change.
- Drinking or urinating much more than usual. This can point to conditions like kidney disease or diabetes.
- Hiding, crying out, or avoiding the litter box because moving hurts.
When It's an Emergency
Head to an emergency vet right away if your cat has any of these signs:
- Sudden loss of the back legs.
- Trouble breathing, including open-mouth breathing or fast breathing at rest.
- Straining in the litter box with little or no urine.
- Collapse or being unable to stand.
- Frequent or severe vomiting, especially with weakness.
What to Do Next
A cat arthritis diet doesn't have to be perfect on day one. Start with your vet, then change one thing at a time. There's no single food for cats with joint pain, but a clear order helps:
- Start with a check-up. Ask your vet to score your cat's body condition and muscle mass and set a target weight.
- Pick and measure. Choose a complete and balanced food that fits your cat, weigh the portions and switch gradually.
- Track and review. Log weight and movement, and go over the log with your vet before you add anything else.
When you're ready to compare options, browse HardyPaw's senior cat food, cat hip and joint supplements, and prescription cat food.
Keep reading
- Arthritis in cats: early signs, causes, and ways to improve comfort
- Cat joint health guide
- Best cat joint supplements
- Cosequin vs. Dasuquin for cats: which joint supplement is right for your cat?
Disclaimer: This article is for general education and doesn't replace veterinary advice. Always talk to your vet before making changes to your cat’s diet or supplements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What food is best for a cat with arthritis?
Ans: Choose a complete and balanced food that keeps your cat lean, with enough protein for muscle. Ask your vet about fish-oil omega-3s. Wet food adds water, which helps. Weigh portions, count treats and ask your vet whether a prescription joint diet suits your cat's needs.
Q2: Can the right diet ease my cat's arthritis?
Ans: It can help, but it won't cure arthritis. A lean body reduces joint strain, enough protein protects muscle, and omega-3s from fish oil have the best research. Only 3 of 72 trials in a 2022 review involved cats so treat food as one part of your vet's plan.
Q3: Can an overweight cat get arthritis?
Ans: It's possible. Extra weight adds strain, but its role in arthritis pain is less clear in cats than in dogs. Lean cats get arthritis too, since about 60% of all cats have joint degeneration. A vet can score your cat's body condition and set a safe, gradual weight target.
Q4: Which wet food should I choose for my arthritic cat?
Ans: No single wet food suits every cat. Choose a recipe with a complete and balanced statement. Pick a texture your cat enjoys, and check calories per can. Evanger's EVX Senior & Joint Health Salmon is one pâté with glucosamine and chondroitin. Ask your vet first.
Q5: What treats are okay for a cat with arthritis?
Ans: Small and low-calorie treats that you count are fine. There's no official standard for arthritis-friendly treats so keep them under 10% of daily calories. A few pieces of your cat's regular food work well. Joint claims on a treat label don't replace weight control or veterinary care.
Q6: Is there a natural way to help my cat's arthritis?
Ans: Yes, start with a healthy weight, good protein, and omega-3s from fish oil. Add wet meals and change foods gradually. Skip essential oils and herbal products not made for cats, because some are toxic to cats. Check with your vet before trying anything new, including any new supplements.
Q7: Can I give my cat human pain medicine for arthritis?
Ans: No. Never give a cat human pain medicine. Acetaminophen should never be given to a cat. Other common human pain relievers are among the most toxic medicines for cats. If your cat seems sore, call your vet. Your vet can suggest pain relief made for cats.
Q8: Does a cat with arthritis need a special diet?
Ans: Not always. Many cats do well on a complete and balanced food at a healthy weight with enough protein. A prescription joint diet is an option when the basics aren't enough or other health conditions are present. Your vet can tell you whether your cat needs one.
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