--- title: Is your older cat stiff, or just slowing down? description: Cats hide joint pain well. Priya Nandakumar lists the small changes to watch for in an older cat and the simple home tweaks that can make life easier. image: https://www.geekeri.studio/hubfs/geekify-demo/blog/blog-arthritis-in-cats.jpeg --- [Skip to content](https://www.geekeri.studio/geekeri-blog/stiff-or-slowing-down-older-cats#main-content) [![logo-geekeri](https://www.geekeri.studio/hs-fs/hubfs/logo-geekeri.png?width=100&height=100&name=logo-geekeri.png "logo-geekeri")](https://geekeri.com) - Home Get started Add a supporting line # Is your older cat stiff, or just slowing down? [Priya Nandakumar](https://www.geekeri.studio/geekeri-blog/author/priya-nandakumar) October 14, 2026 Get started Learn more Cats hide pain very well. A dog with a sore hip limps and tells you about it. A cat with a sore hip stops jumping onto the windowsill and, a few months later, you notice she has been sleeping on the lower sofa cushion for ages. Joint stiffness is common in older cats, and it is easy to put down to age. Sometimes it is just age. Often there is something your vet can help with, so it is worth knowing what to look for. ## Small changes that add up Owners rarely say "my cat limps". They say things like these: - She hesitates before a jump, or takes it in two stages. - He misses the litter tray, often because the side is too high to step over. - Her back end looks scruffy because she cannot reach it to groom. - He does not come to the door, and sleeps somewhere lower and warmer. - She is short with the children, or flinches when you stroke her back. One of these on its own may mean nothing. Two or three that have crept in over a few months are worth a conversation with your vet. ## Start with your vet Your vet can examine the joints, check for other causes and talk about pain relief. Rehab does not replace any of that. It works alongside it, and it is much easier to plan once your vet has told us what they found. ## What rehab looks like for a cat A cat is not a small dog, and our sessions are built differently. We use a quiet room, keep sessions short and spend as long as it takes for the cat to settle before we start. Some cats want to hide first. That is fine. We let them. The work itself is gentle: guided walking over low obstacles, balance work on a cushioned mat, careful stretching and hands-on massage if your cat enjoys it. We watch for small signs that a cat has had enough, and we stop when she tells us. ## Changes you can make this week A few things help straight away, and none of them cost much. - Put a low-sided tray where she sleeps and spends the day. - Add a ramp or a sturdy step to the sofa or the bed she likes best. - Keep food, water and a warm bed on the same level. - Brush the places she can no longer reach, gently and for a minute or two. Our [free senior mobility guide](https://www.geekeri.studio/geekify/guide) has more ideas, with short videos you can follow in the kitchen. If you would like us to look at your cat, you can [book an Initial assessment](https://www.geekeri.studio/geekify/contact), and we will ask your vet for their notes. [Cats](https://www.geekeri.studio/geekeri-blog/tag/cats), [Feline rehab](https://www.geekeri.studio/geekeri-blog/tag/feline-rehab), [Senior mobility](https://www.geekeri.studio/geekeri-blog/tag/senior-mobility) ## Read On Post-surgical rehab ![A spaniel rests after surgery with its owner's hand on its back.](https://www.geekeri.studio/hs-fs/hubfs/geekify-demo/blog/blog-recovery-after-surgery.jpeg?width=480&height=320&name=blog-recovery-after-surgery.jpeg) Post-surgical rehab Oct 14, 2026 ### [What recovery looks like in the weeks after cruciate surgery](https://www.geekeri.studio/geekeri-blog/recovery-after-cruciate-surgery) Your dog is home from cruciate surgery. The leg has a shaved patch and a line of stitches, and you are holding a sheet of instructions that seems to ... 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A dog with a sore hip limps and tells you about it. A cat with a sore hip stops jumping onto the windowsill and, a few months later, you notice she has been sleeping on the lower sofa cushion for ages.", "headline" : "