Diary of a Cat Mom
Diary of a Cat Mom is a reflective cat podcast created and hosted by Dagmar Gatell about understanding cats more deeply — and creating a calmer, more connected life for both you and your cats.
Based on real experiences caring for over 50 cats throughout her life, each episode shares quiet observations, emotional moments, caregiving reflections, and gentle insights from everyday life with cats. From routines, behavior, and emotional wellbeing to grief, gratitude, overstimulation, trust, and the small meaningful moments many people overlook — this is not a traditional “how-to” podcast, but a space for understanding, awareness, and lived experience.
Beyond cat care itself, Diary of a Cat Mom also explores our connection to nature, emotional presence, personal growth, and the way our inner state can influence the animals who share our lives. Because living with cats is never only about feeding and routines — it’s also about energy, safety, trust, patience, and how we show up emotionally in the spaces we create together.
Created for cat lovers who see their cats as family, this podcast offers companionship, reassurance, perspective, and emotional support during seasons of caregiving, uncertainty, healing, change, and letting go.
Diary of a Cat Mom is a personal storytelling podcast and does not replace professional veterinary advice. Every cat is unique, and medical or behavioral concerns should always be discussed with a trusted veterinarian or qualified professional.
You’re not alone on this journey.
We’re learning, loving, and growing together — one paw print at a time.
Diary of a Cat Mom
Ep. 68 - Your Cat Can Have Arthritis Too 🐾🐱
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Have you ever picked up your cat and heard her cry out? Or noticed that a cat who once loved being petted suddenly pulls away from your touch?
In this episode of Diary of a Cat Mom, I share how one of my senior cats taught me an important lesson about pain, aging, and listening more carefully to what our cats are trying to tell us. Sometimes what looks like grumpiness isn't a behavior problem at all—it may be discomfort that deserves our attention.
What You'll Learn in this Cat Podcast Episode
- Common signs of arthritis in cats
- Why senior cats may become sensitive to touch
- How pain can change a cat's behavior
- Small clues cats give when they're uncomfortable
- Ways to help an aging cat feel safer and more comfortable
Timestamps & Chapters
00:00 Introduction
00:11 Your Cat Can Have Arthritis Too
00:49 When a Loving Cat Starts Reacting Differently
01:23 The Vet Visit and Diagnosis
01:58 Signs of Pain and Arthritis in Cats
02:28 How I Changed My Interactions
02:53 Why Behavior Changes Matter
03:15 Final Thoughts
This is where I’ve gathered everything that supports me and my cats:
https://diaryofacatmom.com/cat-care-resources/
About the Diary of a Cat Mom Podcast
Diary of a Cat Mom is a quiet, personal cat podcast created by Dagmar Gatell, sharing real moments, emotions, and experiences from life with cats.
This space is meant for connection, comfort, and companionship. Everything shared comes from lived experience as a cat mom and is not intended as professional veterinary advice. Every cat is unique, and for health concerns, it’s always best to consult your trusted veterinarian.
Most of all, please remember:
You’re not alone on this journey. We’re learning, loving, and growing together — one paw print at a time.
Diary of a cat mom Today's diary entry. Your cat can have asthritis too. You're listening to Diary of a Cat Mom. Have you ever picked up your cat and heard her cry? Or maybe your cat suddenly moves away when you pet her, sweats at you with her paw, or seems uncomfortable when you touch her back. I think it can feel confusing, especially when your cat has been affectionate and love detention before. Sometimes we think our cat is becoming crumpy, but sometimes your cat may be trying to tell you that she hurts. I realized this with one of my senior cats. She has always been like a total lover. She enjoyed being petted, cuddled, and picked up. So when she started reacting differently, I just was surprised. Instead of purring, she would make little sounds. Sometimes she moved away from me. Another time she sweated me after I touched her. And at first I didn't understand what had changed. Like it wasn't obvious. I knew this wasn't her normal behavior. Something felt wrong, but I wasn't sure what. So I took her to the vet. And the vet examined her and found that she was dealing with asthritis and pain. And suddenly like everything made sense. Like I could see that her knees hurt her, her back hurt her. Getting up quickly wasn't as easy as it was used to be before. Like a simple pat on her back that once felt pleasant, felt now uncomfortable to her. When cats are in pain, they often give small clues. Like they could pin their ears back, tail may switch, or they may pull away from the touch, or they stop jumping as much or takes longer for them to get up. So the behavior wasn't really the problem, but the pain was. But after learning this, I changed how I interacted with her. I bet her much more gently, much more conscious, and I let her decide where she wanted to be touched. And I totally stopped picking her up unless she clearly wanted to be picked up. The treatment for the pain and inflammation, I could see she became more comfortable. So if your cat suddenly seems sensitive to touch, don't assume she's being difficult, especially with the senior cat. Like behavior changes can sometimes be a sign of discomfort or pain. Your cat may be trying her best to tell you that something's hurting her. So it would be good in that case to rule out what it isn't and to find out what it is. Because a lot of times when we listen to our cat, they are telling us to their behavior. Less touch sometimes means better understanding and makes all the difference in the world for your cat. Thank you for being here with me. This is Diary of a Cat Mom. Don't miss the next entry. There's always another little moment, another lesson, another story waiting to be shared. I will talk to you in the next entry.