Evaluating the Efficacy of a Joint Supplement in Senior Cats Using Accelerometry and Machine Learning

Degenerative joint disease is highly prevalent in older cats and can negatively affect mobility, behaviour, and overall welfare, yet objective evidence for the efficacy of dietary joint supplements in this species remains limited. This study evaluated the effects of a multi-ingredient oral joint supplement on activity, behaviour, and physiological parameters in domestic cats using accelerometry and blood-based measures. Sixteen cats were enrolled, with data from 11 cats (control n = 5; treatment n = 6) analysed over a 16-week period. Overall dynamic body acceleration was associated with time and showed a significant interaction between treatment and time (p = 0.001), although no main effect of treatment was detected (p = 0.323). Locomotion showed trends for both treatment (p = 0.082) and the interaction between treatment and time (p = 0.097). Grooming showed a significant interaction between treatment and time (p = 0.018), with higher grooming levels in the treatment group during early winter (weeks 2–8), followed by a decline in both groups. No differences were observed in body weight, haematology or biochemistry. These findings suggest that supplementation may influence behavioural consistency and context-dependent expression, particularly in grooming, rather than producing increases in overall activity. The supplement was well tolerated, highlighting the importance of behaviour-specific and temporal analyses when evaluating interventions in feline joint health.