The aim of this study was to demonstrate the clinical effect, registered by a survey, of a 10-week period of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation of the diet (1.53 g eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA, and 0.31 g DHA) of 16 cats with radiologically documented, naturally occurring osteoarthritis (OA), compared with a 10-week period of supplementation with corn oil (no EPA or DHA).

Cats on the fish oil revealed higher activity level, more walking up and down the stairs, less stiffness during gait, more interaction with the owner and higher jumps compared to those on corn oil supplementation. Supplementation with long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids changes the owner’s perception of some aspects of behavior and locomotion in cats with naturally occurring OA.

Source : R.J. Corbee et al., 2012. The effect of dietary long-chain omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on owner’s perception of behavior and locomotion in cats with naturally occurring osteoarthritis. JAPAN online August 2012. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0396.2012.01329.x