Question:
My 14-year-old Burmese cat has trouble climbing stairs. He is somewhat overweight, and I haven't been able to help him lose it. We have another cat, and they both will eat only Purina natural dry food.
How can I help him be more comfortable? He appears to hate heat of any kind and loves spreading out under the ceiling fan or in front of the A/C vent. Would chondroitin and glucosamine help? How can I get him to take it?
B.M., Palm Beach Gardens, FL Jan 30, 2011
Answer:
If your cat is not seriously overweight, he most likely has arthritis that can make it painfully difficult to navigate stairs. One of our rescued feral cats has arthritis and solicits deep massage along his back and around his hips. My book "The Healing Touch for Cats" will help your cat feel better.
Give him a teaspoon of fish oil (like Nordic Naturals) in his food daily, beginning with just a couple of drops on the dry cat food until he gets used to it. Switching to a grain-free dry cat food like Evo or Wellness may also help, along with crushed 50 to 100 mg of glucosamine and chondroitin mixed in with some of the dry food, which you should moisten and mush with a little water. This is an alternative to giving these supplements in pill form, because many cats do not like to be pilled.
Subscribe