Cat joint supplements
Joint supplements for cats work on the same principle as for dogs — supporting cartilage and reducing inflammation over time rather than treating pain immediately — but arthritis in cats is more often missed than in dogs, since cats tend to slow down and hide discomfort rather than limp obviously. Recognising the signs matters as much as choosing the right product.
Why joint problems in cats go unnoticed
Studies looking at older cats have found signs of joint degeneration are common, yet owners frequently do not recognise the associated changes in behaviour as a joint problem, putting reduced jumping, less grooming, or a reluctance to use the stairs down to "just getting older" rather than something that could be supported.
Watching for a cat jumping onto lower surfaces than they used to, hesitating before a jump they previously made easily, or grooming less thoroughly around the back and tail area are more reliable signs to look for than obvious limping, which is much less common in cats than dogs even with genuine joint pain.
What's in a cat joint supplement
Glucosamine and chondroitin form the base of most cat joint supplements, the same building blocks used in dog products, and are generally well tolerated. Green-lipped mussel extract and omega-3 fish oil are also commonly included for their anti-inflammatory properties and are widely used alongside the base ingredients.
Formats made specifically for cats — flavoured chews, powders that mix into wet food, or liquid drops — tend to get better compliance than trying to give a cat a plain tablet, which many will simply refuse.
When it is time to see a vet instead
A supplement supports joint health gradually and is not appropriate as the sole response to a cat that seems to be in pain, is reluctant to move at all, or has stopped using the litter tray because it involves stepping over a high side. Any of those changes are worth a vet visit, where pain relief and a fuller assessment can be offered alongside any supplement.
A vet visit is also worth having before starting a supplement at all if your cat is on other regular medication, since it is a useful moment to check nothing is likely to interact, even though joint supplements are generally well tolerated. Bringing along a note of the specific changes you have noticed — which surfaces they now avoid jumping onto, or how their grooming has changed — gives the vet more to go on than a general sense that a cat has slowed down.
What we stock
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Forthglade Soft Bite Grain Free Joints & Bones Treats
Grain-free salmon dog treats with salmon oil, glucosamine and chondroitin
£2.45
Pooch & Mutt Salmon Oil
Scottish salmon oil for dogs, dosed by weight from toy breeds to giants
£13.99
Pooch & Mutt Beef Collagen Chews
Beef collagen chews for dogs, aimed at skin, coat and joint support
£5.99
Lily's Kitchen Lily S Kitchen Dog Lovely Lamb
Complete lamb-led dry dog food offered in two practical bag sizes
From£25.15
Bakers Joint Delicious Everyday Large Dog Chew Chicken
240G BAKERS Joint Delicious Everyday Large Dog Chew Chicken: complementary dog food or treat
£2.40
Vetiq Senior Care
A mineral supplement tablet for senior cats and dogs, with glucosamine and chondroitin
£8.15
Vetiq Joint Care Supplement Chews
Joint-care supplement chews for dogs and puppies from 12 weeks, fed by hand or with food
£15.99
Rosewood Collagen Chicken Roll
Rosewood Collagen Chicken Roll: giant single roll, with collagen and chicken
£3.00
Beaphar Salmon Oil
Beaphar salmon oil for dogs and cats, rich in omega-3 and omega-6 with two bottle-size options
From£10.85
James Wellbeloved Grain Free Senior Wet Cat Food Turkey in Gravy Pouch 12 Pack
Grain-free turkey pouches in gravy for senior cats, though the printed analysis looks inconsistent
£14.55
Johnson's Stool Firmer Dog
Vitamin and mineral sachets for dogs over 12 weeks, to help firm up loose stools
£7.79
Bow Wow Meaty Jumbos Chicken
Bow Wow Meaty Jumbos Chicken: 40g chicken-flavour roll, with composition and analysis stated
£1.05
Common questions
- Do cats get arthritis like dogs do?
- Yes, and it is thought to be under-recognised in cats specifically because they tend to slow down and hide discomfort rather than limp obviously the way dogs often do. Reduced jumping, hesitating before jumps, and grooming less thoroughly are more typical signs in cats than visible lameness.
- What joint supplement ingredients work for cats?
- Glucosamine and chondroitin form the base of most cat joint products, often combined with green-lipped mussel extract or omega-3 fish oil for their anti-inflammatory properties. These are the same ingredient groups used in dog supplements, adapted to cat-appropriate doses and formats.
- How do I get my cat to actually take a joint supplement?
- Formats made specifically for cats — flavoured chews, a powder mixed thoroughly into wet food, or liquid drops — tend to work far better than a plain tablet, which many cats will refuse outright or spit out.
- When should I see a vet instead of just using a supplement?
- If your cat seems reluctant to move at all, appears to be in pain, or has stopped using the litter tray because of a high side, see a vet rather than relying on a supplement alone. A vet can offer pain relief and a fuller assessment alongside any ongoing joint support.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.