Just like us, as our cats age they might start to lose that spring in their step. Perhaps your cat is slowing down, not getting the zoomies, hunting, pouncing or prowling like they used to.
Fortunately, there are things we, as their humans (and unpaid servants), can do to support their joint health—and acting early gives them the best chance of long-term healthy mobility.
Diet, in particular, plays a vital role in your cat’s mobility and joint health. By incorporating specific nutrients and supplements into your cat's diet, you can help to keep their joints healthy right into their golden years.
The Importance of a Healthy Weight
Firstly, let’s kick off with the awkward conversation. 😬 No one likes talking about their weight, and vets even find it a difficult conversation to have with owners. Maintaining a healthy weight has plenty of benefits, but in particular, it’s important for your cat’s joint health. Excess weight puts additional stress on your cat’s joints, which we want to avoid. Here are some tips to help keep those weighing scales stable:
- Portion Control: Don’t just dump their food in the bowl, measure it out to ensure they are getting the right amount for their size and activity level. Some feed companies give you measuring cups, but they’re often hugely inaccurate, so if possible, weigh their food on scales.
- High-Quality Diet: Feed the best diet you can manage. Pick one that is rich in high-quality proteins and low in fillers and artificial additives.
- Regular Exercise: Encourage play and physical activity to help burn those calories and maintain a healthy weight.
How Does Weight Impact Your Cat’s Joint Health?
- Increased Pressure on Joints: Extra pounds add stress to weight-bearing joints which can damage the cartilage due to the extra wear and tear.
- Reduced Mobility: Overweight cats are less likely to move around. This can lead to muscle breakdown, weakness and stiff joints.
Essential Nutrients For Your Cat’s Joint Health
Although a high-quality diet will help to support your cat’s joint health and mobility, considering incorporating specific nutrients as extras to their normal food will help maintain their long-term joint health. You can do this by supplementing individual nutrients or choosing the right supplement to do it all.
Omega-3 fatty acids
There are a lot of essential fatty acids. These are the ones that our cats can’t make themselves and have to get from their diet. But essential fatty acids in terms of joint health are exactly that…essential. And supplementing them with the right ones will support their long-term joint health.
Boosting their intake of omega-3 fatty acids will help, but keep an eye out for these specific fatty acids, which are key to maintaining healthy joints.
- Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA)
- Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)
- Eicosatetraenoic Acid (ETA)
Sources of Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Incorporating omega-3s into your cat’s diet can be achieved through:
- Fish Oil: Rich in EPA and DHA, fish oil is one of the most effective supplements for joint health.
- Krill Oil: Another excellent source of EPA and DHA, krill oil is also highly bioavailable.
- Green-lipped Mussel: Contains EPA, DHA, and ETA, and is often found in joint supplements for pets.
Other Nutrients for Joint Health
While the majority of evidence relating to nutrients and supplements for joint health is focused on omega-3 fatty acids, there are other nutrients that have some evidence that suggest they can play a role in joint health. However, the evidence for these is much weaker.
- Glucosamine
- Chondroitin
- MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane)
Antinol For Cats
Antinol® is a super potent blend of two marine lipid concentrates. Containing more than 90 different free fatty acids and essential omega-3s, including DHA, EPA and ETA, Antinol Plus has been scientifically proven to support your pet's joint health and mobility.
