Hidden pain epidemic: Most Aussie cat owners unaware their cats can suffer from osteoarthritis, new research shows

Zoetis Australia

Sydney, Australia – 14 July 2026 – New research has revealed a potential ‘hidden pain epidemic’ experienced by pet cats, with 51% of cat owners unaware that their cat can suffer from osteoarthritis.¹ The Australian consumer research commissioned by Zoetis Australia highlights that while the majority (90%) of cat owners can correctly identify at least one sign of osteoarthritis in cats when prompted, more than a third (35%) have a lack of understanding of the signs and symptoms to look out for.¹

The findings suggest that many Aussie cats could be living with undetected joint pain caused by osteoarthritis due to low awareness of this condition and its impact in cats. The research shows that a quarter of Australian cat owners (25%) believe that signs such as slowing down, sleeping more, or hesitating on stairs or before jumping, are just a normal part of their cat’s ageing.¹ Approximately 14% of respondents also believe that joint pain is a normal part of life for most cats.¹

Osteoarthritis is a condition that leads to pain and progressive degeneration of the affected joints.⁶ It occurs when cartilage, which lines the ends of bones and cushions the joints, breaks down. This can cause pain, inflammation, and reduced mobility due to bone-on-bone contact.⁶

Without appropriate treatment and pain management support, osteoarthritis can reduce a cat's quality of life by affecting their ability to jump, move freely and play. While osteoarthritis affects around 40% of all cats² and 60% of cats aged six years or older,³ cats rarely show obvious signs of the condition (like limping) and are very good at hiding pain, which delays diagnosis.⁷Aussie vets report formally diagnosing the disease in just 17% of their feline patients.⁴

According to Dr Carolyn O'Brien, a feline medicine specialist and director of Melbourne Cat Vets in Victoria, regular veterinary visits and greater awareness of symptoms play an important role in identifying osteoarthritis in pet cats, ultimately supporting better long-term pain management and improving quality of life outcomes.

"Cats are incredibly good at masking pain, which means osteoarthritis isn’t always as obvious as it might be in dogs. There’s also the misunderstanding that common signs and symptoms such as sleeping more, grooming less or slowing down on stairs are just a normal part of ageing, which is why regular vet check-ups are so crucial to help pick up on osteoarthritis early. This is the only way to make sure your cat is receiving the timely care and support they may need – and not suffering in silence,” said Dr O’Brien.

Most cats don’t visit the vet regularly, with the new research revealing that one in five (20%), or the equivalent of 966,000 cat owners in Australia, only take their cat to the vet when something is obviously wrong¹. The gap in care is most significant for middle-aged cats (between 6 and 12 years of age), as most vet visits occur when cats are under 3 years or over 12 years of age.⁷ This reduces opportunities to detect early signs of disease, leaving many cats in this age group without timely diagnosis or support, allowing subtle, often invisible signs of pain to go unnoticed until osteoarthritis is advanced.

“The good news is that there are simple steps we can take to tackle this hidden pain epidemic to ensure our beloved cats can retain their quality of life. Paying attention to subtle changes in behaviour, such as being less interactive and sleeping more or hesitating before jumping up or down or using the stairs differently, can help identify early osteoarthritis and make sure cats get the support they need sooner,” said Dr O’Brien.

Dr Megan Lui, Associate Director - Veterinary Operations Companion Animal at Zoetis Australia, emphasises the importance of conversations between vets and cat owners to help catch osteoarthritis pain early.

“There are many ways that we can help manage our cats’ pain and give them the care they deserve, but as this new research commissioned by Zoetis shows, many owners aren’t sure where to start,” said Dr Lui.

“The first, and most important, step is having a conversation with your vet about osteoarthritis, so that you can work together to develop a management plan tailored to your cat’s needs.”

To help spot the signs early, cat owners can complete a free online Cat Arthritis Assessment⁸ and share the results with their vet to help get the conversation — and the right care — started sooner.

ENDS

This media release was distributed by Palin Communications on behalf of Zoetis Australia. For all media enquiries, please contact:

Karina Durham

Palin Communications

0402 307 056 | [email protected]

Maitreyi Kulkarni

Palin Communications

0413 712 977 | [email protected]

References:

YouGov Zoetis Australia consumer research survey, osteoarthritis and joint pain in cats 2026, data on file.
Enomoto M et al. Vet Rec. 2019;184(1):23.
Slingerland LI et al. The Veterinary Journal. 2011;187(3):304-309.
Global Feline Osteoarthritis Study April 2024, data on file.
Global Canine Osteoarthritis Study April 2024, data on file.
Johnston SA. Vet Clin N Am Small Anim Pract 1997;27:699-723.
Gober M. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. 2025;27(10). doi:10.1177/1098612X251368007
Zoetis Pets Australia. Cat Arthritis Assessment Quiz. https://www.zoetispets.com/en-au/cat-healthcare/arthritis-quiz/

About Zoetis

As the world’s leading animal health company, Zoetis is driven by a singular purpose: to nurture our world and humankind by advancing care for animals. After innovating ways to predict, prevent, detect, and treat animal illness for more than 70 years, Zoetis continues to stand by those raising and caring for animals worldwide – from veterinarians and pet owners to livestock producers. The company’s leading portfolio and pipeline of medicines, vaccines, diagnostics, and technologies make a difference in over 100 countries. A Fortune 500 company, Zoetis generated revenue of $9.3 billion in 2024 with approximately 13,800 employees.

About the YouGov survey

On behalf of Zoetis Australia, YouGov conducted an online survey between 14th – 21st April 2026. The survey results are comprised of a nationally representative sample of 1,029 Australian cat owners aged 18 and older. The survey was designed in collaboration with Palin Communications and Zoetis Australia. Following the completion of interviewing, the data was weighted by age, gender, and region to reflect the latest ABS population estimates.