Keeping Felines Feeling Frisky

Friday, March 1, 2002

Keeping Felines Feeling Frisky (NAPSA)—TIf you want to keep your feline-friend feeling “purrfect,” it may help to keep an eye on her joint-health. As cats age, it is common for their joints to becomeless flexible. That can impact their mobility and quality of life. Pet owners should watch their animals for behavioral changes and symptoms of the condition, including: e Apparentstiffness e Limping or favoring a limb (especially after sleeping or resting) The inability to rise Areluctance to jump A reluctance to climb stairs. While there are many causes of joint pain in cats it is most frequently caused by a breakdown of cartilage—a tissue that cushions the surface where two bones meet to form a flexible joint. Prescribing medications to treat feline joint pain can be difficult. Cats are more sensitive to medications than are most other animals. For example, acetaminophen, a commonly prescribed pain-killer for both people and dogs, can be deadly for cats. As a result, veterinarians usually prescribe nutritional supplements such as Cosequin to help restore cats’ joint-health. The medication costs 25 cents a day and has Changes in a cat’s physical behavior can be a symptom of poor joint-health. been shownto besafe for cats. The supplement works by maintaining the structure of a cat’s joint-cartilage and by slowing the enzymes that attack cartilage. It has been prescribed for dogs, cats and horses since 1992. Recently, a tuna and chicken flavored version of the supplement has been made available. The pull apart sprinkle capsules, available from most veterinarians, can help make a cat’s medicine tastier to swallow. For more information, visit www.cosequin.com.