Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

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altoclef 04/20/2014

I've noticed that a lot of you say you're using Voltaren gel on your hands. I also know that this site is full of animal lovers. Just want to pass this along: I read on another site about a woman whose cat got very, very ill from Voltaren gel. The kitty was "kissing" the person's hands, and there was probably also some transfer from petting, which the cat then ingested while grooming herself.

Please keep this in mind if you have fur friends. I don't know if this cat was particularly sensitive, or adored the taste, or if there were any other risk factors, but I can see how it could be a big problem.

camba 04/20/2014

Thanks for that. Sadly I have an old arthritic cat whose days very limited and wouldnt want to make her feel worse in these final times. I do use it on my hands, and do groom her gently now as she is limited herself.

nb the lovely gray in your picture (I had a gray once that could open doors and knew when I was coming) is like one in our local SPCA at the moment.... Years ago grey cats were the colour visible in an African country called Lesotho that used to eat cats and wear the fur. However the locals had a superstition about gray cats so they were the ones you saw as they wouldnt touch or kill them....

altoclef 04/20/2014

This one's a character. He's a British Shorthair, obviously in the classic blue color. He's the only cat we've ever had that will not allow his claws to be trimmed. If the greys in Lesotho had that same quirk, they would have cut to ribbons anyone who tried to catch them!

Christine26 04/21/2014

Thanks Altoclef. Good piece of information as I have three cats all Tuxedo but just one who wants to be rubbed and petted all the time. Will take note of that to wash my hand hand after applying. Thanks for the heads up.

deleted_user 04/21/2014

for those of you wo use voltaren gel, do you find it to be helpful?

Indycarr 04/21/2014

kathy4 - I have actually found voltaren to be helpful. I've really only used it on my shoulders and knees, but it definitely had brought some relief for me (which actually shocked me because I was a doubter!)

It doesn't take away all the pain, but it certainly helps it and lasts for quite a while too.

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