Cat refuses to jump on the couch anymore

Hi everyone! I'm really worried about Chester. He is 7 years old and usually an energetic orange tabby, but lately he just sits by the window and stares at the couch. He used to jump up to the top cushion in two hops, but now he hesitates, looks at his back legs, and then gives up entirely.

I know he is a picky eater, so I've tried mixing in some wet food to see if that gives him more energy, but he just ignores it. Is this normal for a 7-year-old? I feel like I'm missing something because he is so much more sedentary than he used to be. Has anyone else dealt with a cat suddenly refusing to jump on furniture?

Hi chester_mama. While 7 is on the younger side for 'senior' status, mobility issues can start earlier, especially if there is any underlying joint stiffness or weight gain.

Since you mentioned he hesitates and looks at his back legs, this is a classic sign of pain or discomfort rather than just laziness. I would strongly recommend you check out signs of arthritis vs normal aging to see if you can spot other symptoms like stiffness after sleeping or reluctance to use the litter box.

Also, if his weight has crept up even slightly, that adds significant strain to those joints. You might find the discussion in managing weight in maine coons helpful for understanding how weight affects mobility, even though Chester is not a Maine Coon. The principles of calorie control apply to all breeds.

I am thinking of my cat Lulu, who is a 7-year-old DSH with hairball issues. She had a similar moment last year where she stopped jumping onto her favorite shelf. We found that the carpet fibers were catching her claws, making the surface slippery for her back legs.

I would look at the surface of the couch. If it is very smooth or slick, try placing a non-slip mat or a textured rug over the jumping area. You can see some ideas in grip mats for slippery floors.

Also, if the couch is too high, a ramp might help. I found some great ideas in diy cat ramp ideas that use cardboard boxes and heavy blankets. It is a cheap way to test if lowering the height helps him before buying anything permanent.

Oh my gosh, reading this makes me so anxious about Kiwi and Mimi! I know they are only 1, but I worry about the future.

I saw a thread where someone had a cat with weak back legs and they used specific pet stairs. I think it was in pet stairs for big cats, but I am not sure if those stairs are too steep for a smaller cat like Chester.

I am overthinking this, but if Chester is in pain, isn't it cruel to just let him sit on the floor? I feel like I should be doing more. Did anyone in that thread mention if the stairs actually worked for long-term use, or if the cats just got bored of them?