In the course of a cat’s life, there is a lot of activity going on, whether it is from running around, jumping, or hunting. Understandably, there will be a lot of wear and tear in the joints of the cat. As the cat gets older, you will notice visible signs of this wear and tear. It could be obvious signs such as limping or walking tenderly. It could be subtle, such as becoming less active and sleeping more often. Regardless, becoming aware of this fact and taking preventative actions may increase the quality of life for your cat for years to come.

The biggest cause of pain and concern, in regards to joint health, is arthritis. This is the inflammation of the joint. The most common way this happens is due to the breakdown of cartilage within the joint. Cartilage is a slippery, flexible connective tissue that cushions the space between two bones. Because of the flexibility, the joint is allowed to bend easily without any difficulty. When this cartilage breaks down, the joint essentially becomes bone-to-bone. As it may sound, this can become quite painful. The common signs of arthritis include stiffness, less jumping and climbing, less grooming, and a less sociable cat.

Joint supplements have widely been used by many cat owners as a go-to preventative, and treatment, plan for joint health. This is because a lot of the ingredients in these supplements, if not all of them, have been proven to be effective against joint pain and cartilage breakdown. Some of the ingredients listed in good joint health supplements include glucosamine HCl, chondroitin, methylsulfonylmethane, and omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acid sources.

Another preventative measure you can take is ensuring that your cat maintains a healthy weight. If your cat is constantly carrying around extra weight, it will take its toll on the joints. A healthy weight will help ensure that the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage around the joint remain strong.

It is of importance to note that you can make custom cat food to promote joint health while ensuring that your cat receives proper nutrition. You have the option to add a joint health supplement to the cat food that contains all of the ingredients listed above. This will aid in the prevention of the breakdown of the cartilage. Custom making cat food also ensures that your cat will still receive the nutrition it needs. A lot of the prescription cat foods for this very reason are usually stocked with by-products, or grain sources, or corn. You can have none of that while your cat receives the benefits of the added supplement. Just another option that is out there for you and your cat.