My 13 year old boy cat Christopher Robin (aka Nub) was diagnosed with arthritis in his middle/lower spine maybe 4 years ago in an unrelated x-ray. I hadn't noticed any real symptoms until this year, but now he sometimes has difficulty getting onto the bed, is sometimes stiff, and seems to be in occasional pain (wincing when i try to gently massage parts of his back). It seems like he has good days and bad days, but I'd like to do whatever I can to ease his discomfort.
I set up a little temporary step situation with a plastic bin next to the bed, but I'd like to get him a ramp or at least better set of stairs. My bed is maybe 15 or 16 inches high (there is no frame) and I'm struggling to find good options (they all seem either too high, have stairs that are too tall, are made of materials that have no traction or are too soft so they don't give them good leverage, or are too large in the case of the ramps). Has anyone had good luck with relatively small ramps or stairs? (He is a medium/large cat and about 13 lbs.)
I'd also love recommendations on heat pads (he sleeps in the bed with me so not a separate bed) and anything else that may have worked to ease pain (I've read about glucosamine, fish oil, etc. and the vet suggested gabapentin, but it's hard to know what is best). We have another appointment this week but would still love to hear feedback on what has worked for folks. Thank you!
I set up a little temporary step situation with a plastic bin next to the bed, but I'd like to get him a ramp or at least better set of stairs. My bed is maybe 15 or 16 inches high (there is no frame) and I'm struggling to find good options (they all seem either too high, have stairs that are too tall, are made of materials that have no traction or are too soft so they don't give them good leverage, or are too large in the case of the ramps). Has anyone had good luck with relatively small ramps or stairs? (He is a medium/large cat and about 13 lbs.)
I'd also love recommendations on heat pads (he sleeps in the bed with me so not a separate bed) and anything else that may have worked to ease pain (I've read about glucosamine, fish oil, etc. and the vet suggested gabapentin, but it's hard to know what is best). We have another appointment this week but would still love to hear feedback on what has worked for folks. Thank you!
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