Pain and stiffness from inflamed joints can affect cats no matter how old they are. Even if you have a kitten, they’re sure to appreciate any help ensuring that their joints develop properly. Not only do joint supplements ease inflammation and pain from arthritis, but most also support the growth of new cartilage tissue to keep your feline moving.
Whether your cat bounces off counters and tables like they’re trampolines or struggles to clamber onto the sofa, there’s a joint supplement that will help boost their mobility. To introduce you to each option, we put together these reviews to help you choose between capsules, liquid, or chewable supplements.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Nutramax Cosequin Capsules
Chicken flavored
55-, 80-, or 160-count bottles
Veterinarian recommended
Check Price
Best Value
Nutramax Cosequin Soft Chews
Omega-3 supports skin and coat health
Recommended by veterinarians
Grain-free
Check Price
Premium Choice
Vetoquinol Flexadin Soft Chews
Can be added to food or fed as treats
Prevents cartilage from breaking down
Supports multi-pet homes
Check Price
Nutramax Dasuquin Capsules
Veterinarian recommended
Chicken and tuna flavor
Blocks enzymes that break down cartilage
Check Price
Liquid Health Joint Supplement
No sugar, starch, wheat, gluten, yeast, milk, corn, or soy
NASC quality seal
Beef flavor
Check Price
The 10 Best Joint Supplements for Cats
Nutramax Cosequin Capsules for Cats are available in 55-, 80-, or 160-count bottles and are recommended by veterinarians, making this option the best overall joint supplement for cats. Chicken flavored to entice poultry-loving cats, Nutramax supports your feline’s joints by focusing on the cartilage — both new and old — along with their urinary health.
Active Ingredients: Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate, Manganese Minimum
Product Form: Capsules
Life Stage: Kitten, adult, senior
Contents: 55-, 80-, or 160-count bottles
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It’s suitable for all ages — from kittens to seniors — and breeds of cats. However, although the capsules are designed to be easily ingested, they’re too big for many cats to swallow and don’t fit into cat-sized pill pockets. You may have to break the capsules open to sprinkle the contents on your feline’s food.
Pros
Chicken flavored
55-, 80-, or 160-count bottles
Veterinarian recommended
Supports cartilage production
Supports urinary health
Suitable for all ages
Cons
Capsules are too big for cats to eat
Chicken flavored
55-, 80-, or 160-count bottles
Veterinarian recommended
Supports cartilage production
Supports urinary health
Suitable for all ages
- Chicken flavored
- 55-, 80-, or 160-count bottles
- Veterinarian recommended
- Supports cartilage production
- Supports urinary health
- Suitable for all ages
Capsules are too big for cats to eat
- Capsules are too big for cats to eat
Active Ingredients: Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate, Omega-3S
Product Form: Soft chews
Life Stage: Kitten, adult, senior
Contents: 60 count packet
The best joint supplement for cats for the money is the veterinarian-recommended Nutramax Cosequin Soft Chews for cats. Sold in 60-count packets, you have the option of purchasing a single packet or a bundle of two for a longer-lasting supply. The formula is grain-free and includes omega-3 to keep your feline’s coat and skin healthy even as the active ingredients work to rejuvenate their joints.
Like capsules, soft chews can be mixed in with your cat’s food. They can also be offered as treats for felines that enjoy the chewy texture.
Some fussier felines dislike the smell and taste of these chews, though, and won’t eat them.
Pros
Available in packs of two
Omega-3 supports skin and coat health
Recommended by veterinarians
Grain-free
Can be added to meals or offered as treats
Cons
Smells
Fussier cats don’t like the taste
For pet owners with both cats and dogs, the Vetoquinol Flexadin Advanced with UCII Soft Chews is suitable for felines and their canine siblings. The vitamin E and UCII — a type II collagen — work to prevent your pet’s cartilage from breaking down, enabling them to move more freely. Omega-3 is also in the recipe to protect your cat’s outsides, along with reducing inflammation and swollen joints.
Available in packs of two
Omega-3 supports skin and coat health
Recommended by veterinarians
Grain-free
Can be added to meals or offered as treats
- Available in packs of two
- Omega-3 supports skin and coat health
- Recommended by veterinarians
- Grain-free
- Can be added to meals or offered as treats
Smells
Fussier cats don’t like the taste
- Smells
- Fussier cats don’t like the taste
Active Ingredients: Omega-3, Vitamin E, UCII
Product Form: Soft chews
Life Stage: Kitten, adult, senior
Contents: 30- or 60-count packet
Along with this product being expensive, many picky eaters — both cats and dogs — dislike the taste and the smell of these chews and refuse to eat them.
Pros
Omega-3
Vitamin E
Can be added to food or fed as treats
Prevents cartilage from breaking down
Supports multi-pet homes
Cons
Expensive
Picky eaters might dislike the taste
Nutramax Dasuquin Capsules use natural ingredients to support your cat’s joint health. Recommended by veterinarians, this option by Nutramax blocks the enzymes that break down cartilage and uses omega-3 to reduce inflammation and support your cat’s skin and fur.
Omega-3
Vitamin E
Can be added to food or fed as treats
Prevents cartilage from breaking down
Supports multi-pet homes
- Omega-3
- Vitamin E
- Can be added to food or fed as treats
- Prevents cartilage from breaking down
- Supports multi-pet homes
Expensive
Picky eaters might dislike the taste
- Expensive
- Picky eaters might dislike the taste
Active Ingredients: Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate, Avocado/Soybean Unsaponifiables, Boswellia Serrate Extract, Green Tea Extract
Product Form: Capsules
Life Stage: Kitten, adult, senior
Contents: 84- or 168-count bottles
Chicken and tuna flavored for lovers of poultry and fish, these capsules can be opened and sprinkled over your feline’s food.
Although these capsules can be given to your cat in pill form, the capsules themselves are too big for small cats to swallow comfortably or fit into pill pockets. Fussy felines are also more likely to dislike the taste and refuse to eat food with the powder mixed in.
Pros
Veterinarian recommended
Chicken and tuna flavor
Blocks enzymes that break down cartilage
Omega-3
Can be sprinkled over food or used as pills
Cons
Capsules are too big for small cats to eat
Fussier felines might hate the taste
With an NASC quality seal, the Liquid Health Pets Joint Purr-Fection Cat Supplement is formulated to support the joints and mobility of cats of all ages. Hypoallergenic, this liquid supplement avoids common allergens like sugar, starch, wheat, gluten, yeast, milk, corn, and soy.
Veterinarian recommended
Chicken and tuna flavor
Blocks enzymes that break down cartilage
Omega-3
Can be sprinkled over food or used as pills
- Veterinarian recommended
- Chicken and tuna flavor
- Blocks enzymes that break down cartilage
- Omega-3
- Can be sprinkled over food or used as pills
Capsules are too big for small cats to eat
Fussier felines might hate the taste
- Capsules are too big for small cats to eat
- Fussier felines might hate the taste
Active Ingredients: Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), Taurine, Chondroitin Sulfate, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Manganese
Product Form: Liquid
Life Stage: Kitten, adult, senior
Contents: 2-ounce bottles
The formula uses vitamin C and taurine to protect your feline’s overall health, while glucosamine and MSM keep their joints supple and lubricated. It also contains real beef liver powder to tempt your cat to eat it, whether on its own or mixed with their food.
Fussy felines may still refuse to eat this option due to the taste, despite the natural flavorings. Also, unlike other capsule or chewable supplements, Liquid Health needs to be refrigerated after opening.
Pros
No sugar, starch, wheat, gluten, yeast, milk, corn, or soy
NASC quality seal
Beef flavor
Made with real beef liver powder
Vitamin C
Taurine
Can be mixed with food or used on its own
Cons
Needs to be refrigerated after opening
Some cats don’t like the taste
Backed by 30 years of experience and created and recommended by veterinarians, VetriScience GlycoFlex II Soft Chews are made with real chicken liver. The recipe uses renowned joint support ingredients — MSM, glucosamine hydrochloride, manganese, and green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus), among others — to lubricate your cat’s joints.
No sugar, starch, wheat, gluten, yeast, milk, corn, or soy
NASC quality seal
Beef flavor
Made with real beef liver powder
Vitamin C
Taurine
Can be mixed with food or used on its own
- No sugar, starch, wheat, gluten, yeast, milk, corn, or soy
- NASC quality seal
- Beef flavor
- Made with real beef liver powder
- Vitamin C
- Taurine
- Can be mixed with food or used on its own
Needs to be refrigerated after opening
Some cats don’t like the taste
- Needs to be refrigerated after opening
- Some cats don’t like the taste
Active Ingredients: Perna Canaliculus, MSM, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, N, N-Dimethylglycine Hydrochloride, Manganese
Product Form: Soft chews
Life Stage: Adult, senior
Contents: 60-count packet
Formulated to maintain healthy tissue, rejuvenate old cartilage, and support new tissue, Ventriscience enables your cat to get back to climbing to their favorite napping spot on the bookshelf.
While this supplement is designed to be given as a treat, the chews are a little big and may need to be broken into smaller pieces. Some felines also refuse to eat it due to its flavor and smell.
Pros
Real chicken liver
Recommended by veterinarians
Backed by 30 years of experience
Formulated by veterinarians
Lubricate and support joint health
Cons
Chews need to be broken into smaller pieces
Some cats dislike the taste
Sold in bottles of 30 or 60 capsules, the Nutramax Cosequin Maximum Strength Capsules is an affordable solution to your feline’s ailing joints. The formula is recommended by veterinarians and filled with ingredients known to lubricate and rejuvenate old cartilage while supporting the growth of new tissue. Along with supporting your feline’s mobility, these capsules support their bladder health.
Real chicken liver
Recommended by veterinarians
Backed by 30 years of experience
Formulated by veterinarians
Lubricate and support joint health
- Real chicken liver
- Recommended by veterinarians
- Backed by 30 years of experience
- Formulated by veterinarians
- Lubricate and support joint health
Chews need to be broken into smaller pieces
Some cats dislike the taste
- Chews need to be broken into smaller pieces
- Some cats dislike the taste
Active Ingredients: Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate, Manganese
Product Form: Capsules
Life Stage: Adult, senior
Contents: 30- or 60-count bottles
Although many capsule supplements can be fed to your cat as pills, this Nutramax option is recommended to be used as a powder instead. This requires opening the capsules to pour the contents onto your cat’s food. Unlike other supplements, this one is aimed at adult and senior cats and might not be suitable for kittens.
Pros
30- or 60-count bottles
Recommended by veterinarians
Supports bladder health
Affordable
Cons
Capsules are designed to be sprinkled on food rather than used as pills
Not recommended for young cats
The NaturVet Moderate Care Glucosamine DS Plus Soft Chews are formulated for adult and senior pets. The antioxidants prevent cellular decay and omega-3 and -6 fatty acids relieve inflammation, and the other active ingredients — glucosamine, MSM, Yucca schidigera, and chondroitin sulfate — lubricate your feline’s joints.
30- or 60-count bottles
Recommended by veterinarians
Supports bladder health
Affordable
- 30- or 60-count bottles
- Recommended by veterinarians
- Supports bladder health
- Affordable
Capsules are designed to be sprinkled on food rather than used as pills
Not recommended for young cats
- Capsules are designed to be sprinkled on food rather than used as pills
- Not recommended for young cats
Active Ingredients: Glucosamine Hydrochloride, MSM, Yucca schidigera, Chondroitin Sulfate, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Omega-3 and -6
Product Form: Soft chews
Life Stage: Adult, senior
Contents: 120-count bottles
This product is suitable for both cats and dogs, so you can support all your pets without worrying about mixing up specialized supplements.
Since dogs can eat these supplements too, they may need to be broken into smaller pieces for your cat and can be too hard for kittens or felines with missing teeth. This option is expensive compared to some other choices, and the bottle needs to be kept sealed for freshness.
Pros
Antioxidants prevent cellular decay
Relieves inflammation
Has omega-3 and -6
Suitable for multi-pet households
Supports joint integrity
Cons
Chews need to be broken into pieces for cats
Needs to be kept sealed for freshness
Expensive
Too hard for kittens or cats with missing teeth
Formulated to support cats and dogs in multi-pet households, Pet Naturals Hip + Joint Dog & Cat Chews are backed by 40 years of experience in customer care. Created by veterinarians, the recipe uses vitamin C, green-lipped mussels, and MSM in a 160-count bottle to promote healthy joints and restore your cat’s mobility. Real duck is also used to appeal to your feline’s appetite.
Antioxidants prevent cellular decay
Relieves inflammation
Has omega-3 and -6
Suitable for multi-pet households
Supports joint integrity
- Antioxidants prevent cellular decay
- Relieves inflammation
- Has omega-3 and -6
- Suitable for multi-pet households
- Supports joint integrity
Chews need to be broken into pieces for cats
Needs to be kept sealed for freshness
Expensive
Too hard for kittens or cats with missing teeth
- Chews need to be broken into pieces for cats
- Needs to be kept sealed for freshness
- Expensive
- Too hard for kittens or cats with missing teeth
Active Ingredients: Glucosamine Hydrochloride, MSM, Perna Canaliculus, Chondroitin Sulfate, Ascorbic Acid, Manganese
Product Form: Soft chews
Life Stage: Kitten, adult, senior
Contents: 160-count bottles
Some cats, particularly picky eaters, dislike the flavor and won’t eat these chews even when they’re mixed in with food. The soft chews also tend to stick together and crumble when you try to pull them apart, making it difficult to ensure that your cat receives the proper dosage.
Vitamin C
160-count bottle
Formulated by veterinarians
40 years of experience
Suitable for multi-pet households
Real duck
- Vitamin C
- 160-count bottle
- Formulated by veterinarians
- 40 years of experience
- Suitable for multi-pet households
- Real duck
Some cats hate the taste
Chews stick together and crumble when pried apart
- Some cats hate the taste
- Chews stick together and crumble when pried apart
- Liquid-Vet Hip & Joint Allergy-Friendly Cat Supplement
Check Latest Price
Active Ingredients: Glucosamine Sulfate, MSM, Hyaluronic Acid, Chondroitin, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, Purified Water
Product Form: Liquid
Life Stage: Adult
Contents: 8-ounce bottles
For cats with sensitive stomachs and allergies, the Liquid-Vet Hip & Joint Support Allergy-Friendly Cat Supplement supports joint health and doesn’t exacerbate allergies. The liquid formula enables you to easily mix the supplement with your cat’s meal, especially if you use wet food. The recommended daily dosage can be used in one meal or split between two meals.
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Active Ingredients: Glucosamine Sulfate, MSM, Hyaluronic Acid, Chondroitin, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, Purified Water
Product Form: Liquid
Life Stage: Adult
Contents: 8-ounce bottles
Picky eaters that dislike strange tastes are more likely to eat food mixed with this supplement because the liquid is completely flavorless. There are also no flavored ingredients that your cat can have an allergic reaction to.
Some cats became lethargic after ingesting this product, though, and the bottle sometimes leaks during shipping.
Pros
Unflavored
Gentle on sensitive stomachs
Hypoallergenic
Daily dosage can be split between two meals
Cons
Bottle can leak
Can cause lethargy
Unflavored
Gentle on sensitive stomachs
Hypoallergenic
Daily dosage can be split between two meals
- Unflavored
- Gentle on sensitive stomachs
- Hypoallergenic
- Daily dosage can be split between two meals
Bottle can leak
Can cause lethargy
- Bottle can leak
- Can cause lethargy
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Joint Supplement For Cats
No matter how often we wish they could, our cats can’t tell us what’s wrong with them. As a result, it’s hard to know whether they need a joint supplement. While they can’t speak to us in a language that we understand, we can take note of their body language and actions to decide how to take care of them.
To help you determine if a joint supplement is the best choice for you and your cat, this guide will give you a few things to consider.
What Are Joint Supplements?
Most joint supplements use a range of ingredients to keep your cat’s joints in top shape. They can come in various forms — liquid, chewable tablets, or capsules with pre-portioned powder that you can sprinkle on your cat’s dinner — but the recommended products always use similar ingredients to help boost your pet’s joint health.
Glucosamine
Derived from shellfish for use in supplements, glucosamine is a naturally occurring compound found in your cat’s joints — and yours too. This substance helps repair the cartilage surrounding your cat’s joints. For older cats especially, producing enough glucosamine to keep their joints working properly can be a challenge, which is where these supplements come in.
A deficiency in glucosamine leads to pain and discomfort from inflamed and damaged cartilage. Boosting your cat’s glucosamine levels can help repair any damage caused by aging or surgery.
Chondroitin
Often partnered with glucosamine, chondroitin is another naturally occurring compound. Instead of repairing damaged cartilage, though, chondroitin focuses on removing the enzymes that damage the cartilage in the first place. It also helps lubricate your feline’s joints by enabling fluid retention.
Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM)
MSM is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory chemical. Like glucosamine, it’s a naturally occurring substance that cats struggle to produce as they age. You can find it in most high-quality cat foods, along with glucosamine and chondroitin in joint supplements.
Green-lipped Mussels
A great source of omega-3, green-lipped mussels are used in many joint supplements to help lessen inflammation and boost the health of your cat’s skin and coat. Not only are they good for increasing your feline’s intake of omega-3, but they’re also filled with naturally occurring glucosamine and chondroitin, which makes them some of the best all-around choices for these supplements.
Hyaluronic Acid
Another compound that focuses on the lubrication of your cat’s joints is hyaluronic acid. This substance is the reason that the fluid around your cat’s joints is a sticky consistency. It works to alleviate inflammation and strengthens the cartilage between joints.
Liquid, Capsules, or Chewable Tablets
Choosing between the types of joint supplements available depends on your cat’s preferences. Each of these supplement forms appeals to cats with varying tastes.
Liquid
Available with a dropper or a measuring cup, liquid supplements can be more easily mixed with your cat’s food. For cats that notice powders too easily, liquid options can blend in better and be almost unnoticeable. Droppers also give you the option of giving your cat the supplement directly rather than mixing it with their meal.
Capsules
Many capsule supplements aren’t designed to be used in pill form, although they can be. They’re often too big for cats to swallow comfortably or for placing in pill pockets (treats designed to seal around pills to hide them from your pet). You can open the capsules and sprinkle the contained powder on your cat’s meal.
Chewable Tablet
If your cat prefers chewy, soft textures and isn’t afraid to wolf down supplements in treat form, chewable tablets enable you to avoid both liquids and powders. Some chews can be too big to offer to your cat as a whole, especially when the formula is suitable for both cats and dogs. While such chews are great for multi-pet households, you may have to break them into smaller pieces for your feline.
Does Your Cat Need a Joint Supplement?
Age isn’t necessarily a deciding factor on whether your cat needs a joint supplement, as younger felines can also benefit from the extra boost of nutrients for their joints, especially after surgery or trauma. Pay attention to any signs of pain that your feline exhibits, as well as:
Excessive licking and biting
Purring
Change in activity level or daily routine
Posture
Glazed eyes
Panting
Unkempt appearance
Bad temper
Not all of these are signs that your cat is in pain. Purring, for example, is a way that cats soothe themselves and show their contentment. Look for a variety of signs, and if you’re still not sure, visit your veterinarian. They’ll be able to examine your cat more closely and even give you recommendations for joint supplements that you can try.
- Excessive licking and biting
- Purring
- Change in activity level or daily routine
- Posture
- Glazed eyes
- Panting
- Unkempt appearance
- Bad temper
Final Thoughts
Our best overall choice, Nutramax Cosequin Capsules uses chicken flavoring and a range of ingredients to keep your feline’s joints active and supports the health of their bladder. The Nutramax Cosequin Soft Chews offer a chewable option for felines that dislike capsules or powders mixed in with their food. It’s a budget-friendly product filled with omega-3 for inflammation relief and skincare.
The best joint supplement for your cat may take trial and error to discover, but these reviews will hopefully help you find a solution to your cat’s aching joints.
Featured Image Credit: Stock Asso, Shutterstock
