Mittens is stiff again, any tips?

Mittens is being so stiff this morning. She jumped on the bed but then just lay there looking at me with those big eyes. I hate seeing her in pain. She is 12 and we have been dealing with arthritis for a while now.

I tried to give her the supplement we discussed in that thread about meds but she just turned her nose up. I am worried that the side effects of the stronger medication are too harsh for her. Does anyone have tips on managing this without making her feel sick? :(

My bengal Tiger is 6 and he is a menace, but he is also food motivated. If she is turning her nose up at the supplement, stop forcing it. That creates stress.

Check the floor. If you have hard wood, look at slippery floors and senior cats. Adding rugs in her path helps her move without slipping. It is cheap and effective. If she is not eating, warm up the food slightly. See warming up food for details. It makes the smell stronger.

Oh no, I am so sorry to hear that, Donna. I am always so worried when my cats act weird. Loki is only 1 but he is so energetic and I feel like I am always on edge. Freya is calm but I still check her breathing every hour.

Is Mittens hiding? In subtle signs of pain it said that hiding is a big indicator. I am asking because I want to make sure I am not overthinking it. Should I be checking her gums? I read that they get pale when cats are in pain. I am just so scared of missing something serious.

Melissa, checking gums is fine but do not obsess. Miso is 2 and hyper, so I am used to movement. Gus is 5 and he is a black shorthair who likes to be left alone. If Mittens is eating and using the litter box, she is likely okay.

Donna, look at cat ramps worth buying. A low step to get up to her favorite spot can save her joints. It is better than forcing her to jump. Also, keep the environment consistent. See calming seniors in new spaces if you have moved anything.

I am so sorry, Donna. Willow is 11 and a grey cat. She moves slowly now. I remember when she would leap onto the windowsill. Now she just looks at it.

Sometimes we forget that we are the ones who need to change. I think about quality of life scales a lot. It is not just about keeping them alive, but about keeping them comfortable. If the medication makes her miserable, it is not worth it. Let her rest. She has earned it.

Thank you all. :3 SparrowHollow, you are right. I was so focused on fixing it that I forgot to just let her be. I will try the rugs tigersdad suggested. melissa.ward, I checked her gums and they look pink, so I feel a little better. I did not want to be the one who missed the signs.

I just posted an update in a follow-up thread about how she is doing today. I hope she sleeps well tonight.