Feline osteoarthritis (OA) is a widely under-recognized condition in clinical practice, particularly in India, where awareness about chronic pain in cats remains limited.

Epidemiological studies suggest that up to 61% of cats over the age of six show radiographic signs of OA, with the number rising significantly in cats over 12 years (Lascelles et al., 2012). However, due to the subtlety of feline behaviour and their evolutionary predisposition to mask pain, clinical detection is challenging.

Unlike dogs, cats with OA do not often exhibit overt lameness. Instead, veterinarians should look for reduced grooming, difficulty jumping onto furniture, reluctance to use the litter box, irritability, or social withdrawal. A validated owner questionnaire such as the Feline Musculoskeletal Pain Index (FMPI) or Client Specific Outcome Measures (CSOM) can

provide valuable insight into mobility changes that may not be obvious during examination (Benito et al., 2013).

Orthopaedic examination in cats can be complicated by their temperament, but careful palpation of the spine, hips, elbows, and stifles may reveal crepitus, joint thickening, or reduced range of motion. Radiographs can confirm OA but often underestimate the pain burden; cats with mild radiographic changes may have significant functional impairment.

Management of feline OA should focus on pain control and environmental adaptation. Pharmacological options include meloxicam (off-label, at the lowest effective dose) and gabapentin, which provides analgesia and anxiolysis during handling. Non-drug approaches