As your cat enters their senior years, you may notice that they aren’t as sprightly anymore, and they tend to spend their days lazing in a sunny spot rather than chasing toys around the house. You may also notice some behavioral changes that can be a little concerning, like litter box issues or a disheveled appearance. There are a variety of medical conditions that can cause behavioral changes in cats, including cognitive dysfunction syndrome, which is similar to dementia in people.
Understanding Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (Dementia in Cats)
Like Alzheimer’s disease (which is a common form of dementia in people), feline dementia affects a cat’s brain function, which in turn affects their behavior. Veterinary medicine experts have yet to determine the exact cause, but it’s thought that cats develop dementia as a result of changes in their brain, including oxidative damage, vascular changes and compromised blood flow. The death of nerve cells in the brain (neurons) may also be responsible. These changes in brain function can lead to slowly progressing behavioral issues like confusion, separation anxiety, memory loss and not using the litter tray.
Feline Cognitive Dysfunction Isn’t a Normal Part of Aging
It’s important to note that cat dementia isn’t considered a normal aging process for older cats. It won’t affect every senior cat, but the likelihood of it occurring does increase with age — especially in cats who are older than 15 years of age. That’s why any behavioral changes in your cat should be checked out by your veterinarian, as there are ways to help your cat cope and improve your cat’s quality of life.
Cat Dementia Signs and Symptoms
Cats with dementia can have one or multiple behavioral changes, depending on the progression of the disease. Typical cat dementia symptoms include:
- Confusion and disorientation, looking lost in a familiar area, staring at walls, not knowing where things are
- Spending more time away from the rest of the family or being clingier than normal
- Sleeping more or not wanting to play
- Changing their sleep patterns, especially being more active at nighttime
- Not using the litter box
- Forgetfulness around eating and where their water and food bowls are
- Grooming themselves less and looking disheveled
- Being less active and not interested in things going on around them
- Vocalizing more often, particularly at night
- Showing increased anxiety, being unsure of new things, not wanting to be alone
Diagnosis of Cat Dementia
There isn’t a simple test to diagnose dementia in cats — it’s usually diagnosed by ruling out other potential problems. There are health conditions common in older cats that also cause behavioral changes (e.g., hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, arthritis, dental problems), so your veterinarian will check for those first. If your cat doesn’t have any of those diseases, and they have signs of cognitive decline, they may be diagnosed with dementia. If you’re taking your cat to the veterinarian, it can be helpful to take a video of your cat’s unusual behaviors for the vet.
Cat Dementia Treatment
Unfortunately, there is no cure for feline dementia and the symptoms will become progressively worse over time. However, there are ways family members can help care for a cat with dementia and make life more comfortable for their senior kitty.
Environmental enrichment and mental stimulation can be helpful. This includes exercise (playing with your cat counts as exercise), giving them puzzle toys to solve for a treat reward and teaching them new things. Your veterinarian may also recommend medications or supplements to help delay the progression of the condition and improve their symptoms.
It can also be helpful to provide more resources that make it easier for your cat to find the things they need: for example, more food and water bowls around the house so they can easily find food and water. A litter tray or litter boxes with low sides can also make it easier for elderly cats to use them. You may also want to keep the cat in a smaller area so they can’t get lost as easily.
It’s important not to change too many things, though. Change can stress any cat, but it’s especially problematic for older cats with dementia who are already experiencing anxiety and confusion. In general, try to keep your cat’s stress levels to a minimum, which may mean separating other pets from them.
So, Can Cats Get Dementia?
Yes, cats can develop dementia, which is also known as cognitive dysfunction syndrome. Behavioral changes in your cat shouldn’t be accepted as a part of your cat getting older. While there are no definitive ways to prevent or treat feline dementia, there are ways to help manage cognitive decline by keeping them active and stimulating their brain.
