Senior cat showing signs of joint stiffness and reluctance to jump — a common early indicator of musculoskeletal disease in older cats

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Bone, Joint, and Muscle Problems in Cats: What Indian Cat Parents Should Know

Jun 27 • 10 min read

Your cat stopped jumping onto the bed three weeks ago. You assumed she was being moody. She still eats. She still grooms. Nothing dramatic.

But her favourite spot is now the floor. Getting up is slow. She flinches when you touch her hind leg.

Cats are extraordinarily good at hiding pain. What looks like a personality change or "getting old" is often a physical problem and many of the most common ones involve the bones, joints, and muscles.

Bone, joint, and muscle disorders in cats include conditions affecting bones (fractures, infections, tumours, nutritional damage), joints (osteoarthritis, patellar luxation, septic arthritis, immune-mediated arthritis), and muscles (myopathies, potassium deficiency weakness). According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, these disorders most commonly affect a cat's ability to move. Skeletal and joint disorders are the most frequent, but problems can also reflect neurological disease, hormonal disorders, nutritional deficiencies, or infection. Approximately 60–90% of older cats have osteoarthritis but because cats mask discomfort so effectively, the condition is widely underdiagnosed.

Key Takeaways

The musculoskeletal system bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage is the framework that lets your cat move. When something goes wrong here, the first sign is usually a change in movement or behaviour, not obvious pain.
Cats are wired to conceal pain. "Slowing down" or "being less playful" in a senior cat is a clinical sign that deserves a vet visit, not reassurance that it's normal ageing.
Osteoarthritis is the most common joint condition in cats, affecting 60–90% of older cats. It is deeply underdiagnosed in India because cats don't limp the same way dogs do.
Nutritional bone disease is still seen in Indian cats fed all-meat or home-cooked diets without proper mineral balance. This is a preventable problem.
Hypervitaminosis A caused by feeding too much liver is a genuine risk for Indian cats and causes irreversible bone and nerve damage over time.
Fractures, dislocations, and joint trauma in cats are often caused by falls from height (high-rise syndrome) and road accidents both very common in urban India.
Early diagnosis genuinely changes outcomes. Musculoskeletal disorders caught before severe damage has occurred are far more treatable than those found late.

The Musculoskeletal System: What It Is and What It Does

Cat skeleton diagram showing key bones and joints relevant to musculoskeletal health — cervical spine, hip, knee, and paw

Your cat's musculoskeletal system is the complete framework of structures that allow movement, provide support, and protect vital organs. It includes:

Bones — the rigid structural framework; 244 bones in a typical domestic cat
Joints — where bones meet; allow movement while maintaining stability
Cartilage — the smooth, slippery tissue that cushions joints and allows bones to glide
Muscles — generate force and produce movement
Tendons — connect muscles to bones
Ligaments — connect bones to bones, keeping joints stable
Bursae — small fluid-filled sacs that reduce friction between moving parts

According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, diseases of this system most often affect the body's ability to move — but the connection to other systems is important to understand. The nervous system controls muscle movement. Blood vessels supply bone and muscle. Hormonal disorders affect bone density. Nutritional deficiencies weaken bone and cartilage. An immune system malfunction can attack joints. This means that a musculoskeletal problem in your cat is not always purely mechanical it can reflect a much broader health issue.

Tendons, in particular, deserve a mention. They do not stretch. When excessive force is applied a hard landing from a jump, a fall, a road accident they can tear. And because tendons and ligaments have a relatively poor blood supply, they heal slowly and sometimes incompletely. A healed tendon is not as strong as the original and is prone to future injury. This is why proper rehabilitation after a musculoskeletal injury is not optional it is part of the treatment.

How Cats Hide Pain — and Why This Makes Diagnosis Harder

Comparison showing a cat's behaviour change — stopping high perching — as a subtle sign of joint pain or musculoskeletal disease

Cats are prey animals as well as predators. In the wild, showing weakness invites attack. Over millions of years of evolution, cats have developed a remarkable ability to mask pain, discomfort, and disability even from the people who know them best.

This creates a fundamental challenge in feline musculoskeletal medicine: by the time you notice something is wrong, the problem has often been present for weeks or months.

What musculoskeletal pain looks like in cats is almost never a loud, obvious limp the way it might appear in a dog. Instead, look for:

Stopping jumping — no longer leaps onto the sofa, bed, or favourite shelf
Choosing lower resting spots than usual
Slowing down or moving more carefully on stairs
Reluctance to be touched in a specific area; flinching or turning to bite when you stroke certain spots
Less grooming — especially of the hindquarters or tail base (hard to reach when joints are stiff)
Changes in litter box behaviour — avoiding the box if climbing in is painful, or eliminating near the box but not inside
Unusual sleeping postures — staying in one position much longer than usual
Reduced appetite — pain suppresses appetite in cats
Increased hiding or withdrawal
Grumpiness or aggression where a normally gentle cat snaps when touched

The Merck Veterinary Manual notes that signs of musculoskeletal disorders include weakness, lameness, limb swelling, and joint dysfunction but in cats, even lameness is often subtle or intermittent. A cat may appear to walk normally on three legs and use the fourth only when needed.

For Indian cat parents: "She's just getting old" is one of the most common explanations we hear for a senior cat who has stopped jumping and sleeps more. Old age is not a cause of these changes it is a risk factor for the conditions that cause them. Every senior cat who changes her movement patterns deserves a proper orthopaedic assessment.

Lameness in Cats: What It Looks Like and What It Means

Lameness is not a diagnosis it is a sign. It means something is causing abnormal or impaired movement of one or more limbs. The Merck Veterinary Manual defines it as a potential indicator of musculoskeletal disorder, and notes that nerve function and muscle performance can also be impaired by neuromuscular changes.

Feline lameness ranges from a subtle shortening of stride that you might not notice unless watching closely, to complete non-weight-bearing on a leg that is held up at all times. The cause might be in the bone, the joint, the soft tissue around the joint, a muscle, a tendon, or the nerve supplying that limb. It might also reflect pain referred from the spine.

To diagnose the underlying cause, your vet will:

Take a history of when the lameness started, whether it came on suddenly or gradually, and whether anything preceded it (a fall, a fight, a jump)
Observe your cat resting, standing, and walking sometimes before and after light exercise
Palpate (feel) the limbs, joints, muscles, and spine for swelling, pain, heat, instability, crepitus (a grating sound), reduced range of motion, and muscle wasting
Order X-rays, and sometimes ultrasound, CT, or MRI
Withdraw joint fluid if an infectious or immune-mediated cause is suspected
Perform biopsy of bone or soft tissue if a tumour is suspected
The important message: lameness that has been present for more than two to three days, or that is accompanied by any other symptom (swelling, fever, appetite loss, visible wound), deserves a vet visit not a wait-and-see at home.

Joint Disorders in Cats

Quick reference infographic of bone, joint, and muscle disorders in cats — conditions, warning signs, and the osteoarthritis statistic for senior cats

The joints are where bone meets bone and where most movement happens. Several distinct conditions can affect feline joints.

Osteoarthritis (Degenerative Joint Disease)

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the gradual breakdown of joint cartilage the smooth, slippery layer that allows bones to glide past each other. As the Merck Veterinary Manual states, it is common in cats but may not be noticed because cats often hide signs of pain. Studies report that approximately 60–90% of older cats have radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis.

When cartilage wears away, the exposed bone surfaces become inflamed. The joint membrane thickens. Bony outgrowths (osteophytes) form at the joint edges. The joint fills with more fluid than normal. Over time, muscle surrounding the joint wastes from disuse.

Signs include lameness, reduced range of motion in the joint, stiffness after rest that improves with movement, muscle wasting, and reluctance to perform movements that require joint flexion jumping, climbing, grooming.

Treatment options the Merck Manual lists include weight loss (when appropriate), controlled exercise on soft surfaces, warm compresses on affected joints, and appropriate pain medication. A monoclonal antibody therapy (frunevetmab) has been approved in some countries for feline OA pain. Surgical options exist but are rarely needed in early disease.

The osteoarthritis gap in India: The majority of cats with OA in India are undiagnosed. Owners attribute slowing down to age. Vets may not specifically screen for it unless the cat presents with obvious lameness. A semi-annual orthopaedic assessment for any cat over 8 years is the most effective prevention.

Patellar Luxation

The patella (kneecap) sits in a groove at the bottom of the femur and should glide smoothly when the knee bends. In patellar luxation, the kneecap slips out of this groove. This can be hereditary or secondary to other limb deformities.

According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, cats of any age can be affected, but cats are generally less severely affected than dogs and have an excellent outlook for recovery with surgery. Signs range from infrequent lameness in mild cases to consistent limping and visible bone deformity in severe ones.

Treatment depends on severity and includes surgical correction. Cats recover well with appropriate care.

Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia abnormal development of the hip joint is rare in domestic cats but more common in some purebred breeds. The Merck Veterinary Manual notes that it leads to a loose hip joint and eventual osteoarthritis. Most cats require no surgery; weight management and lifestyle modifications often manage discomfort adequately.

If you have a purebred cat particularly a Maine Coon, Persian, Ragdoll, or similar large-breed purebred hip dysplasia is worth discussing with your vet, especially if your cat shows rear-end weakness or reluctance to jump.

Septic (Infectious) Arthritis

Septic arthritis is joint inflammation caused by bacterial infection most commonly bacteria that spread through the bloodstream, enter through a bite wound, or contaminate a surgical site. Other infectious agents including rickettsiae and spirochetes can also cause it.

According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, signs include lameness, swelling and pain in the affected joint(s), fever, lethargy, and appetite loss. The joint may feel warm. Diagnosis involves examination of joint fluid and blood tests. Treatment requires antibiotics and, in severe cases, surgical drainage and debridement.

In India: Bite wounds from street cats or other animals are a significant source of bacterial joint infection in owned cats. If your cat has been in a fight and develops lameness, joint swelling, or fever in the days that follow, septic arthritis must be ruled out. This is not something to observe at home.

Immune-Mediated Arthritis

In immune-mediated arthritis, the body's own immune system attacks the joint lining. The Merck Veterinary Manual describes several forms in cats. Feline progressive polyarthritis resembles rheumatoid arthritis in people and destroys joint cartilage and underlying bone. Systemic lupus erythematosus is the most common form that causes joint inflammation without bone destruction and can also affect the skin and other organs.

Signs include pain and swelling in multiple joints simultaneously, fever, general malaise, and persistent appetite loss. Crucially, these signs often come and go your cat may seem improved for a few days before worsening again. Treatment involves anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive medications. Relapses are common and the cause is often unknown.

Joint Trauma: Cranial Cruciate Ligament Tears and Falls

The Merck Veterinary Manual notes that cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) tears in cats are usually caused by serious injury, though they are more likely when the joint structure is already weakened. A CCL tear causes knee instability, joint fluid accumulation, and early cartilage damage. Signs include lameness, joint swelling, and a grating sound when the joint is moved.

Palmar carpal ligament breakdown can occur when cats fall or jump and their wrist (carpus) hyperextends beyond its normal range. High-rise syndrome falls from apartment windows and balconies is one of the most common causes of this and of multiple joint fractures in urban Indian cats.

Bone Disorders in Cats

Bone Fractures

Fractures are breaks in bone. The Merck Veterinary Manual lists car accidents, road traffic injuries, firearms, fights, and falls as common causes. In India, the two most frequent causes in urban cats are falls from balconies and windows (high-rise syndrome) and road accidents.

Fractures can involve a single or multiple breaks and can be open (skin broken at the fracture site) or closed. Open fractures are orthopaedic emergencies because of infection risk.

Signs of fractures include lameness, inability to bear weight, visible deformity of the limb, swelling, and pain on palpation. In young cats, growth plate fractures are a particular concern because the growth plate is structurally weaker than adjacent bone — a relatively minor injury can fracture it and cause permanent limb deformity if not treated correctly.

Treatment aims to restore the bone to its correct alignment and hold it there while it heals typically with pins, wires, screws, or bone plates placed surgically. The outlook is generally good when there is no severe joint damage.

Osteomyelitis (Bone Infection)

Osteomyelitis is inflammation of bone, most often from bacterial infection. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, contributing factors include inadequate blood supply to the bone, trauma, and spread of infection through the bloodstream. Signs include lameness, pain, fever, loss of appetite, and pus-filled sores at the wound site.

Treatment requires long-term antibiotics, wound flushing, and surgical removal of dead or infected bone in severe cases. In persistent or recurrent cases, amputation may be necessary. The outlook depends on severity and how long the infection has gone untreated.

Nutritional Bone Disease (Nutritional Secondary Hyperparathyroidism)

This is a completely preventable condition that is still seen in Indian cats. It occurs when cats are fed an all-meat diet typically raw meat, chicken, fish, or minced meat without bones or mineral supplementation. Meat is high in phosphorus and very low in calcium. Over time, the parathyroid glands respond to the calcium-phosphorus imbalance by releasing a hormone that extracts calcium from the bones, progressively weakening the skeleton.

The Merck Veterinary Manual notes that this is seen most often in kittens but can occur in older indoor cats on an all-meat diet. Signs include lameness, bone pain, reluctance to walk or stand, and fractures from minimal trauma a kitten jumping off a low surface and snapping a leg is a classic presentation.

If treated early with calcium supplementation and a balanced diet, recovery is often good. If severe bone deformities have already occurred, the outlook is poor.

For Indian cat parents: Feeding cats raw chicken or fish every day without any commercial cat food, vegetables, or bone is a common practice in many Indian households. It feels natural and generous, but it creates a nutritional deficiency that quietly destroys bone density over months. A balanced, complete commercial cat food for the appropriate life stage eliminates this risk. If you feed home-cooked food, discuss calcium and mineral supplementation with your vet.

Hypervitaminosis A (Too Much Vitamin A)

This is caused by feeding excessive liver to cats. Cats require vitamin A from their diet (unlike dogs and humans, who can make it from beta-carotene), and liver is one of the richest vitamin A sources. In India, liver is often fed regularly as a protein source or as a reward.

The Merck Veterinary Manual explains that hypervitaminosis A causes bony outgrowths (exostoses) on the vertebrae, typically in the neck and upper spine. These deformities cause stiffness, interfere with normal movement, and can lead to nerve damage. The outgrowths may also form in the elbows and other leg joints. Once skeletal changes have occurred, they are generally irreversible even if the diet is corrected, the bone deformities remain.

Signs include a stiff neck, reluctance to groom, inability to turn the head normally, forelimb lameness, and over time, progressive loss of neck mobility. If caught early and the diet is corrected, some signs may partially improve. But the skeletal changes themselves do not reverse.

The India-specific risk is real: Offering liver as a weekly or twice-weekly treat or mixing it regularly into home-cooked cat food is among the most common dietary habits in Indian cat-keeping households. The rule from veterinary nutrition is simple: liver should not constitute more than 5–10% of a cat's total diet, and only once or twice a week at most. If it's a daily item, you are actively causing this condition over time.

Bone Tumours

The Merck Veterinary Manual states that the most common primary bone tumour in cats is osteosarcoma, affecting the radius, humerus, femur, or tibia. Less common types include chondrosarcoma, fibrosarcoma, and hemangiosarcoma. Bone tumours can also spread to bone from a primary tumour elsewhere.

Signs include lameness, swelling over the affected bone, and pathological fractures — fractures that occur from minimal force because the bone has been weakened by the tumour. By the time of diagnosis, spread to the lungs has already occurred in approximately 25% of animals. The recommended treatment is amputation of the affected limb, and on average cats survive about 4 years after amputation.

Any firm or growing swelling over a bone in a cat warrants prompt veterinary evaluation and X-rays.

Scottish Fold Osteodystrophy

This genetic condition affects Scottish Fold cats the breed characterised by the folded ears that have become popular in India as a "cute" breed choice. The same genetic mutation that causes the ear fold (a defect in cartilage development) causes progressive bony deformities of the spine and paws. Bony growths fuse the tail vertebrae and the bones of the feet, causing severe pain and disability.

The Merck Veterinary Manual describes the condition as characterised by deformities of the vertebrae and paw bones, lameness, and deformed, swollen bones.

This condition is severe, progressive, and untreatable beyond symptom management. It is the reason why breeding Scottish Folds is banned or discouraged in several countries, and why virtually every major veterinary and animal welfare organisation advises against buying them. If you have a Scottish Fold cat, discuss pain assessment and management with your vet regularly, as these cats are in near-constant musculoskeletal pain.

Muscle Disorders in Cats

Muscle problems in cats can originate from the muscle tissue itself (myopathies) or from the nervous system. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, diagnosing a myopathy typically requires laboratory tests.

Hypokalemic Polymyopathy (Low Potassium Weakness)

This is a whole-body muscle weakness disorder caused by potassium deficiency. Signs include generalised weakness, a characteristic bending-forward of the neck (ventroflexion of the neck is almost pathognomonic for this condition in cats), an abnormal gait, persistent appetite loss, and muscle pain.

Diagnosis is confirmed with blood and urine tests. Treatment with dietary potassium supplements is highly effective, and the outlook for rapid recovery is excellent if the condition is caught early.

In India, cats on very low-quality diets or cats with chronic kidney disease (which causes potassium loss) are at risk. If you see your cat's neck bending downward unusually, or if your cat seems generally weak and unable to hold her head up normally, this should be evaluated as an emergency.

Tendinitis and Tendon Injuries

The Merck Veterinary Manual notes that tendons do not stretch and are prone to tearing when large forces are applied. Tendon injuries lead to tendinitis (inflammation) and require careful, long-term rehabilitation. Healed tendons are not as strong and remain vulnerable to re-injury.

Falls, jumps to hard surfaces, and road accidents can all cause tendon injuries in cats. Recovery requires patience not forced rest that leads to contracture, and not return to full activity before adequate healing.

How the Vet Diagnoses Musculoskeletal Problems

The Merck Veterinary Manual outlines a thorough diagnostic approach that is worth knowing as a cat parent, because it tells you what a proper evaluation looks like:

History and physical exam — The vet needs a careful account of when and how the problem started, the cat's activity level, diet, living environment, and any prior injuries. The physical exam includes watching the cat rest, stand, and walk sometimes before and after light movement to reproduce the sign.

Palpation — Feeling each limb, joint, and the spine for swelling, pain, heat, instability, crepitus (a grating or crackling sound), reduced range of motion, and muscle wasting.

X-rays — The first imaging step for most musculoskeletal problems. Shows bone structure, fractures, joint effusion, arthritic changes, bone tumours, and growth plate injuries.

Ultrasound — Useful for soft tissue injuries tendons, muscle tears, and joint fluid assessment.

CT and MRI — More detailed imaging for complex fractures, spinal disease, and tumour planning.

Joint fluid analysis (arthrocentesis) — A small sample of fluid is withdrawn from the joint with a needle. The character, colour, and cell count of the fluid help distinguish septic arthritis, immune-mediated arthritis, and OA from each other.

Electromyography (EMG) — Tests the electrical activity of muscles; helps distinguish muscle disease from nerve disease.

Biopsy — For suspected bone tumours or muscle disorders, a tissue sample is required to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment Principles: What to Expect

Treatment depends entirely on the diagnosis. The Merck Veterinary Manual emphasises that early detection often allows conditions to be corrected and a full return to healthy life is possible.

General treatment principles include:

Pain management — The Merck Veterinary Manual specifically states that relieving pain is an important component of treatment for lame animals and may allow faster recovery. Pain management in cats requires careful selection of medications — many common pain relievers (including ibuprofen, paracetamol, and aspirin) are toxic to cats. Veterinary-prescribed NSAIDs or other cat-appropriate pain medications are used.

Weight management — In conditions like OA and hip dysplasia, even modest weight loss measurably reduces joint stress and improves comfort.

Controlled exercise — Soft surface exercise, avoiding high-impact activity, and structured rehabilitation after injury or surgery.

Nutritional correction — Essential for conditions caused by diet (nutritional hyperparathyroidism, hypervitaminosis A).

Antibiotics — For osteomyelitis and septic arthritis.

Surgery — For fractures, some joint conditions, bone tumours, and severe osteoarthritis.

Supportive nutrition during recovery Cats recovering from orthopaedic surgery or illness often need nutritional support. A cat that is not eating well loses muscle mass rapidly and heals more slowly. ROYAL CANIN RECOVERY LIQUID (on Animeal) is a nutritionally complete, easily digestible liquid diet suitable for cats requiring caloric support during illness or post-surgical recovery.

Supporting Your Cat's Musculoskeletal Health

For cats with confirmed musculoskeletal conditions particularly osteoarthritis long-term management is as important as the initial treatment.

Nutritional support for bone and tissue health. Vitamins A, D3, and B-complex all play roles in bone metabolism, nerve function, and tissue repair. Taurine is essential for cardiac muscle in cats. BIOPET VITALI CAT PASTE by Bio Petactive (on Animeal) provides a complete feline vitamin complex including Vitamin A, D3, B1, B2, B6, B12, Taurine, and amino acids supporting bone health, immune function, and energy metabolism. This is particularly relevant for cats on home-cooked diets or recovering from musculoskeletal illness.

Immune support for cats with inflammatory or immune-mediated joint conditions. Cats with systemic lupus, progressive polyarthritis, or other immune-mediated conditions benefit from overall immune health support during their medical treatment. IMMUNOL LIQUID by Himalaya (on Animeal) provides herbal immunomodulatory support Guduchi, Ashwagandha, and Shatavari at 1ml twice daily for cats, as a supportive adjunct to prescribed treatment (always discuss with your vet before adding any supplement to a medicated cat's regimen).

Environmental modifications for arthritic cats:

Place food, water, and litter on the same floor eliminate the need to climb
Use a litter tray with low sides for easy entry
Provide orthopedic or padded bedding at floor level or with a very low ramp
Non-slip mats on all tile and marble floors
Raise food and water bowls slightly reduces neck strain when eating

Indian Cat Parent Corner: Falls, Liver Feeding, and the Senior Cat Problem

Three specific issues deserve particular emphasis for Indian cat parents.

The high-rise fall problem. Urban India has millions of cats living in apartments across multiple floors. Open windows, unsecured balconies, and terrace access are common. High-rise syndrome falls from above the fourth or fifth floor causes a characteristic pattern of injuries including jaw fractures, chest trauma, limb fractures, and joint injuries. The paradox is that cats falling from very high floors sometimes sustain fewer injuries than cats falling from moderate heights because they have time to reach terminal velocity and relax. But any fall from a height in a cat must be seen by a vet promptly even if the cat appears to be walking. Internal injuries and fractures may not be immediately obvious.

Preventing high-rise falls: install window guards (cat netting) on all open windows and balcony railings. This is straightforward, inexpensive, and eliminates one of the most common causes of serious injury in urban Indian cats.

The liver-feeding habit. Liver is readily available, inexpensive, and cats love it. It is part of the home-feeding culture across India. As explained above, feeding liver regularly as a daily component or large portion of the diet causes hypervitaminosis A, producing irreversible spinal and joint deformities. The correction is simple: treat liver as an occasional treat (once a week, small quantity), not as a staple. Feed a complete commercial cat food as the nutritional foundation.

The senior cat assessment gap. India's cat-keeping culture is relatively young and skews toward younger pets. Senior cat care cats aged 8 years and above is a relatively emerging area. The assumption that "getting slower" is normal in older cats leads to widespread undiagnosed osteoarthritis. Any cat over 8 years old should have a proper orthopaedic assessment as part of their annual (ideally twice-yearly) wellness visit. The Merck Veterinary Manual's statistic that 60–90% of older cats have OA is not abstract it applies to the senior cats in Indian homes right now.

FAQ

My cat stopped jumping onto the sofa. Is this normal ageing?
It is a sign not a normal part of ageing. Stopping jumping is typically caused by pain or reduced range of motion in one or more joints. Osteoarthritis is the most common explanation in a senior cat. "She's just getting old" is not a diagnosis. Please have your vet assess her joints.

Can I give my cat human pain medication for joint pain?
Never. Ibuprofen, paracetamol (acetaminophen), aspirin, and naproxen are all highly toxic to cats and can cause organ failure at doses that would be mild for a human. Cats metabolise drugs very differently from people and dogs. Veterinary pain management for cats is a specialised area always use only what your vet prescribes, at the prescribed dose.

What should I feed my cat to avoid nutritional bone disease?
Feed a complete, balanced commercial cat food that meets AAFCO or similar nutritional standards for the appropriate life stage (kitten, adult, or senior). If you prefer home-cooked food, work with your vet or a veterinary nutritionist to ensure proper calcium-phosphorus balance. Do not feed an all-meat diet without mineral supplementation.

How much liver is too much for a cat?
The Merck Veterinary Manual identifies excessive liver intake as the cause of hypervitaminosis A a condition causing irreversible spinal and joint deformities. Liver should be no more than a small, occasional component of the diet not more than once a week, and in a small quantity (e.g., a teaspoon). It should not be a daily food or a significant portion of the diet.

My cat fell from a height and seems OK. Does she need to see a vet?
Yes, immediately. Cats that fall from a significant height can have internal injuries, chest injuries, subtle fractures, or joint trauma that may not show externally. A cat that "seems fine" after a fall from above the second floor should be assessed the same day. X-rays and a thorough examination are necessary.

How is Scottish Fold osteodystrophy different from other bone conditions?
It is a genetic condition caused by the same mutation responsible for the folded ears. It is progressive, painful, and incurable. It cannot be corrected with surgery or diet. If you own a Scottish Fold, the responsible approach is to ensure your vet regularly assesses and manages your cat's pain, as this condition causes chronic musculoskeletal suffering.