Screening Cats for Osteoarthritis: How the Feline OA Checklist Can Transform Practice
Osteoarthritis (OA) in cats is common, underdiagnosed, and often overlooked until significant pain or mobility issues arise. A recent study published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery highlights a practical approach for identifying OA in feline patients using the Feline Osteoarthritis Checklist.
The study, led by Margaret Gober and colleagues, compared traditional methods of identifying OA in cats—physical exams and owner history, with a prospective, in-clinic screening using the validated Feline OA Checklist. Five general practice veterinary clinics participated, reviewing 502 medical records retrospectively and collecting 437 completed screening forms prospectively.
The results were striking. Using historical methods, only 1% of cats were flagged with orthopedic concerns. In contrast, when the Feline OA Checklist was applied prospectively, 39% of cats exhibited at least one behavior indicative of OA. This dramatic difference underscores how easily feline OA can go undetected without structured screening tools.
For veterinarians and veterinary teams, early recognition of osteoarthritis is critical. Pain management is most effective when initiated promptly, and identifying OA behaviors—such as reduced activity, difficulty jumping, or subtle changes in grooming—can guide treatment plans that improve quality of life.
The Feline OA Checklist provides a quick, practical tool to screen every feline patient in practice, ensuring that cats experiencing pain receive timely interventions. Integrating such tools into routine wellness visits can elevate feline care and strengthen the human-animal bond by reducing preventable suffering.
Takeaway for Clinical Practice:
OA is underdiagnosed in cats; structured screening increases detection.
The Feline OA Checklist is simple, validated, and effective in practice.
Early recognition enables timely pain management, improving feline welfare and client satisfaction.
Full Article: Implementation of a prospective in-clinic validated Feline Osteoarthritis Checklist
