Written by: Dr Sanchez-Emden • May 15, 2023• Pet Health

Here, Kitty, Kitty! I Have a New and Natural Painkiller for You

If your cat is older than 10 to 12 years, you may have noticed that things have changed a little bit. Maybe the kitty is not as active as they were before, prefers to sleep most of the time or is hesitant to jump to places they used to jump. Perhaps they’ve become uncharacteristically grumpy or squint their eyes as if in discomfort. Any of these symptoms, or their combination, may indicate chronic pain. Chronic pain from arthritic joints (osteoarthritis) is by far the most common source of pain in older cats.

Medical advances for arthritic cats have been stagnant for many years for two main reasons: (1) the difficulty for the pet parent in recognizing their kitty is suffering from chronic pain and (2) a lack of resources for veterinarians to treat this pain. There are simply no safe, effective or approved medications for the long-term treatment of chronic arthritic pain in cats … until now.

Cats have a peculiar metabolism. It is challenging to treat a chronic condition with medications that would be safe for them long term. A recent breakthrough treatment for arthritic pain is not only safe and effective but will also improve the quality of life of our older cats. This unprecedented treatment for arthritic pain is not considered a drug. It is classified as “biological medicine.” This refers to a treatment with a natural biological product, not a chemical. This feline treatment consists of an injection of a peptide, a natural monoclonal antibody. The antibody neutralizes a protein known as the nerve growth factor. This factor is involved in the development of chronic pain and inflammation. The monoclonal antibody treatment will not only decrease the degree of pain in our old arthritic kitties but is also safe for their organs. It does not need to be eliminated through the kidneys or liver, like most drugs would. Since it is a protein, it is destroyed the same way other proteins in the body are degraded.

As a veterinarian, it is exciting to finally be able to manage chronic arthritis in cats using a course of treatment that is no longer dependent on the use of off-label or less-than-ideal drugs — sometimes designed for other species. With the rise of biological medicine and rehabilitation medicine (which includes cold laser therapy, underwater treadmill therapy, therapeutic ultrasound and acupuncture, among other modalities), we can now provide a healthier and happier life for our older cats so that their golden years may be as brilliant as possible.

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