symptoms of feline osteochondrodysplasia

The clinical symptoms of feline osteochondrodysplasia mainly include unstable gait, poor bone development, severe pain, short tail, and tail stiffness. This condition usually occurs in Scottish Folds, but it is less common in upright-eared cats. Cats with osteochondrodysplasia often have short and deformed limbs, accompanied by pain. The condition worsens over time, and cats often assume a "crouching" position to alleviate the pain. Long-term pain leads to decreased activity, which is why Scottish Folds are generally overweight.

Early symptoms of feline osteochondrodysplasia

In the early stages of osteochondrodysplasia, cats may exhibit decreased jumping ability, swelling in the middle segment of the lumbar spine and tail, inability to bend the tail, bent feet, limping in all four limbs, reluctance to walk, and swelling of the metatarsal-phalangeal joint. Many owners initially ignore this condition, thinking that their cat may have accidentally twisted its foot, but the situation becomes increasingly severe with age.

Severe symptoms of feline osteochondrodysplasia

As time goes on, the condition of osteochondrodysplasia in cats becomes more severe. At this stage, the cat's pain becomes intense, and it often assumes a "crouching" position to alleviate the pain. If the cat's tail is gently touched, it may scream due to the pain.

Note: Osteochondrodysplasia is a genetic disease in cats, characterized by organ malformation. The main affected breeds are Scottish Folds and folded-eared cats, with symptoms typically appearing in kittens aged 1-6 months. A small number of cats with osteochondrodysplasia have the condition due to calcium and vitamin D deficiency.