Hip Dysplasia in Cats: Causes and Treatment

Cats are active creatures who enjoy clambering up tall cat trees and leaping onto window seats. However, some conditions — such as hip dysplasia in cats — can affect a cat’s ability to practice and enjoy these natural behaviors.

If your cat suffers from hip dysplasia, here’s what you need to know about its causes, symptoms, and treatment options. This article will guide you through the key aspects of hip dysplasia in cats, so you can ensure the best care for your cat.

What Is Cat Hip Dysplasia?

Hip dysplasia in cats is a developmental disease that affects the hip joint. Cats have a hip joint on either side of their pelvis that functions as a ball and socket. In these cat joints, the acetabulum of the pelvis is the socket and the head of the femur is the ball.

Normally, the head of the femur fits snugly within the acetabulum. When a cat has hip dysplasia, often the socket of the pelvis is too shallow. This is the most common trait for cats with hip dysplasia, and it is likely a major contributor to the development of osteoarthritis.

Some cats may have hip joints that are too lax (loose), meaning the joint(s) may partially or completely dislocate. While not a consistent trait for cats, hip laxity is a constant feature of hip dysplasia in dogs.

In cats with hip dysplasia, the top of the femur that connects to the pelvis may also be malformed. Though this change usually happens later in life in cats than it does in dogs.

Over time, a cat with hip dysplasia will experience degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis). While mild or early feline hip dysplasia may not be painful, as arthritis develops, cat hip pain often increases.

Types of Feline Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia can range from mild to severe in cats. Where a cat falls in this continuum depends largely on their clinical signs.

If X-rays reveal evidence of hip dysplasia, but the cat shows no obvious signs, a vet would rate the condition “mild.” In cases deemed “severe,” cats may have difficulty using the stairs or walk hunched over in pain, even though the X-rays don’t look too bad.

What Causes Hip Dysplasia in Cats?

Experts believe genetics play a major role in the incidence of hip dysplasia in cats. The condition is developmental, so it usually begins in young cats. However, hip dysplasia in kittens may go undiagnosed until a cat gets older and shows signs of arthritis.

The condition may also be more common in cats than many might expect. The reported incidence of hip dysplasia in cats ranges from 6.6 up to 32 percent — nearly a third of all cats. (1) The wide range in reported cases could be because cats are better at hiding their symptoms than dogs. Also, in some cases, changes in gait due to cat hip problems may be harder to detect.

Hip dysplasia can occur in any cat, regardless of breed. However, statistics show that purebred cats are more prone to develop hip dysplasia than domestic shorthair (DSH) cats. Cat breeds that have higher incidences of hip dysplasia include:

• Maine Coon
• Persian
• Himalayan

Interestingly, some research has suggested that female cats may be more likely to develop hip dysplasia than male cats. (2,3) One study also suggests that cats with patellar luxation (dislocating kneecaps) may be more likely to have hip dysplasia. (4) This may occur because the patella popping out of place causes rotation of the femur, affecting the hip joint.

Symptoms of Feline Hip Dysplasia

The following are symptoms of hip dysplasia in cats: 

• Decreased activity level
• Reluctance to climb and jump
• Difficulty with stairs
• Difficulty squatting to defecate 
• Lameness in the hindlimbs (often both), which may worsen after exercise
• Walking in a crouched position
• Change in appetite
• Changes to claw-sharpening behavior (e.g., less likely to stretch up on a scratching post)

Diagnosing Cat Hip Dysplasia

Veterinarians typically diagnose hip dysplasia in cats using a physical exam and radiographs (X-rays). During the physical examination, your veterinarian will look for feline hip dysplasia symptoms, including:

• Pain when extending the hip joints
• Crackling or popping when extending the hip joints
• Muscle atrophy (wasting) in the hind end
• Reduced range of motion
• Resistance to hip abduction (pulling leg outwards to the side)
• Subluxation of the hip joint, which is sometimes better assessed when a cat is sedated

X-rays are usually performed on sedated patients to allow for easy positioning and manipulation of the legs. Without sedation, your cat may resist X-rays because of pain or disdain for restraint. 

Hip Dysplasia in Cats Treatment

Treatment for hip dysplasia in felines can be surgical or non-surgical. Non-surgical management of feline hip dysplasia can include:

• altering the cat’s environment
• physical therapy
• a diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids
• weight reduction
• nutritional supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin for cats
• pain medications

Some clinics are starting to offer stem cell therapy to help regenerate damaged joint tissue. The procedure uses adult stem cells harvested from your cat’s body. However, it can be costly and is not yet widely available to treat hip issues in cats.

Examples of environmental modifications you can make for a cat with hip dysplasia include:

• Providing stairs or steps so cats can continue to access heights
• Low-edged litter trays
• Providing cat toys and catnips to encourage physical activity
• Having play sessions to encourage physical activity

Physical therapy (PT) is becoming more commonplace for dogs but is less so for cats. Physical therapy for cats might include (but is not limited to):

• Hydrotherapy (underwater treadmill)
• Using stairs
• Range of motion exercises
• Massage
• Laser therapy

If you’re interested in PT, ask your vet to refer you to a veterinary therapist specializing in joint pain.

Medication and Pain Relief for Hip Dysplasia in Cats

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are often used to treat pain due to feline hip problems like dysplasia. Examples of NSAIDs used in cats include meloxicam and robenacoxib. These meds help reduce pain and inflammation and improve mobility in cats with arthritis.

Other medications your vet may add to the treatment plan include amantadine, gabapentin, or amitriptyline.

The injectable drug frunevetmab (Solensia) may also be an option for cats with osteoarthritis secondary to hip dysplasia. This medication is a monoclonal antibody that specifically targets a pain signal called the nerve growth factor.

Surgery Options for Cats with Hip Dysplasia

Typically, vets only recommend surgical treatment for hip dysplasia in cats after medical treatment has failed. The two main surgical options for cats with hip dysplasia are:

• Femoral Head and Neck Excision (FHNE)
• Total Hip Replacement (THR)

In the FHNE procedure, a surgeon removes the head and neck of the affected femur. This encourages a false joint of fibrous tissue to form, preventing bone-on-bone pain.

Following this surgery, cats typically require intense rehabilitation. Your veterinarian will either provide detailed rehabilitation instructions or refer you to a rehab specialist. Surgical outcomes can be unpredictable for FHNE.

THR surgery is more commonly recommended for dogs; though studies report that cats often have excellent outcomes. However, this surgical procedure is not currently available at most specialty hospitals. 

General Cost of Treatment for Hip Dysplasia

The cost of treating hip dysplasia in felines can vary widely, depending on your vet’s recommendations.

Predictably, managing the condition using medication is much more affordable. Medications to treat cat joint pain due to hip dysplasia are likely to cost around $100 to $200 per month. 

Surgical solutions can get pretty pricey. As a specialty procedure, THR for cats has a much higher cost than FHNE. A one-sided FHNE for a cat generally costs around $1,000 to $1,500. Total hip replacements (both sides) can range from $7,000 to $12,000.

How to Prevent Hip Dysplasia in Cats

Because genetics likely play a role in hip dysplasia, it is not considered a preventable disease. Cats with hip dysplasia should not be bred to prevent passing on the condition. You can slow the progression of disease by keeping your cat at a healthy weight and encouraging physical activity. 

Related Conditions

• Degenerative joint disease or arthritis
• Patellar luxation

References

1. Perry K. “Feline hip dysplasia: A challenge to recognise and treat.” Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. 2016;18(3):203-218. doi:10.1177/1098612X16631227
2. Hayes HM, Wilson GP, Burt JK. “Feline hip dysplasia.” Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association. 1979;5:447–448.
3. Koeppel E, Ebner J. “Hip dysplasia in the cat.” Kleintierpraxis. 1990;35:281–298.
4. Smith GK, Langenbach A, Green PA, Rhodes WH, Gregor TP, Giger U. “Evaluation of the association between medial patellar luxation and hip dysplasia in cats.” J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1999 Jul 1;215(1):40-45.