The words “senile cat” and “cat dementia” can be very scary for cat owners. You spend years with a cat, getting to know her and growing to love her unique personality.
As she gets older and her behavior starts to change, we naturally worry that she is becoming senile. We ask, why is she behaving so oddly?” We may add, “do cats get dementia?”
In this article an experienced vet, Eman Magdi, explains what happens when elderly cats suffer from cognitive dysfunction. She gives some great advice on how to help your senile cat continue to enjoy life.
The Importance of Recognising the Problem
Of course, if your cat is becoming lethargic or missing the litter tray, old age is not always the culprit. Other health issues can cause behavioral problems for older cats. Accordingly, Eman will show you how vets arrive at a dementia diagnosis.
For this reason, don’t assume that problems are caused by dementia. Always talk to a vet if your cat is showing any signs of dementia or other behavioral problems.
Cat dementia can be a distressing condition, but treatments and lifestyle changes can alleviate the condition and symptoms. Even with dementia, your cat can still have a high quality of life.
Can Cats Get Dementia?
Can cats get dementia? The simple answer is yes, they can.
Like humans, senile cats can show signs of cognitive dysfunction and dementia. The problem is, cat dementia symptoms can vary, making it difficult even for vets to diagnose.
As an example, your cat may be puzzled and disoriented. Alternatively, he might lack any interest in playing or sleep more than usual.
Overall, dementia in humans and in cats is a complex disease. Likewise, another problem shared by humans and cats is Alzheimer’s disease.
Can Cats Get Alzheimers?
If you are thinking, “As in Alzheimer’s?!”, the answer is yes, I’m afraid! To support this, some studies suggest that cats can get Alzheimers, too.
A number of new studies at Universities of Edinburgh, St. Andrews, Bristol, and California universities identified a particular protein. This accumulates in a cat’s nervous system, worsening a cat’s cognitive abilities and intensifying the symptoms of dementia.
Now, we have established that cats can suffer from senile dementia. Before exploring the symptoms and learning how to alleviate the problem, what is cat dementia?
What Is Cat Dementia?
Cat dementia is also known as Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome. It tends to happen predominantly in elderly cats.
In short, cat dementia is usually caused by amyloid plaques. Plaques occur when amyloid proteins build up in or around nerve cells, causing learning difficulties and impaired vision.
How do you know when this is happening to your cat? How do you know when your cat has dementia?
Does My Cat Have Dementia?
Dementia is such a serious and complex condition that only a qualified veterinarian can answer this question. It is notoriously difficult to diagnose, so you need expert help.
A number of studies suggest that many older cats have some degree of senility.
As an example, a Moffat & Landsberg study estimated that 28% of cats between the age of 11 and 14 show at least one sign of dementia.
In addition, over 50% of cats aged 15 or more showed signs of dementia.
That’s all well and good, but what are these signs?
Signs of Dementia in Cats
Like Alzheimer’s in humans, Cat dementia manifests as behavioral symptoms at the age of 10 years and above.
Some cat dementia symptoms include:
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- Anxiety and depression
- Confusion
- Irritability
- Wanting to be alone
- Forgetting learned behavior
- Urinating and defecating in the wrong places
- Difficulty sleeping
- Meowing a lot
- Lack of desire to groom, leading to a matted coat
- Lethargy
- Loss of appetite.
These Symptoms can Mean Other Things
Of course, many of these symptoms can be caused by other ailments. For example, bad teeth can lead to irritability and loss of appetite, while kidney problems can cause inappropriate urination.
As we will see, it is difficult to reverse these symptoms. However, you can slow down the process of dementia in cats. Your vet will run some tests and give you some great advice.
Cats with dementia rarely stray from home, and they often have little interest in social interaction or play. Senile cats can suffer from imbalance and disorientation.
More Things to Watch Out For
Cats with CDS may stare at empty space, sleep for longer, howl at night, and pee and defecate outside their litter box.
Additionally, cats with dementia may develop problems with vision and hearing. Sometimes, they lose the ability to navigate around objects.
Other symptoms include a drop in energy levels, difficulty with grooming, a loss of appetite, and an unwillingness to respond to people or other cats. Cats suffering from dementia can show signs of restlessness, anxiety and depression.
So, if your cat has some of these symptoms, does this mean that he has dementia? Well, yes – and no. Many of these symptoms occur with other diseases and conditions. Again, it is very important to see your vet for a proper diagnosis.
Diagnosing Cat Dementia
As we discussed earlier, feline dementia is a very complex condition that you cannot diagnose at home. Take your cat to the vet for a proper diagnosis. They will ask questions, take blood and urine samples, and test cognitive function.
Just as with humans, the vet will ask you about the symptoms and build up an overall picture. Really, the vet works through a list and eliminates other conditions that can cause these symptoms.
In other words, vets diagnose dementia through exclusion.
With the tests complete, you can now look at treatments for your cat.
Cat Dementia Treatment
Once a vet has established dementia as a likely cause, they will suggest a number of treatments. These can alleviate the symptoms and slow the onset of dementia.
In most cases, by the time the vet examines the cat, there is no reliable treatment. However, studies have shown that you can delay the advance of the disease.
Your veterinarian may suggest a variety of treatments for felines suffering from cat dementia. While there is no cure for cognitive decline, there are several ways you can support your cat.
Suggestions to maintain your cat’s well-being include:
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle
- Provide mental stimulation and physical exercise
- Avoid changes to their daily routine
- Don’t move anything, including furniture, food bowls, and litter tray.
- Dietary changes
- Medication.
Medication
Your vet may also recommend medication to treat your cat’s anxiety if it is particularly severe.
If you have any questions about feline senile dementia, consult your veterinarian. They can provide tailored, expert advice, because each case is different.
Changing Your Cat’s Diet
As an example, you can change your cat’s diet to include vitamins E and C, and antioxidants such as flavonoids and carotenoids. These are found in fruits and vegetables. Other diets that can help cognitive disease include antioxidants, selenium, beta carotene, Omega-3, and carnitine.
L-carnitine enhances mitochondrial performance, and omega-3 fatty acids boost cell membranes. Likewise, dietary supplements can be helpful, especially alongside foods containing the right balance of omega-3 fatty acids.
Supporting Cognitive Function
An unchanged environment makes it much easier for your cat to find its way around the house. This stops them from becoming confused or getting lost. It also means that they are more likely to use their litter box.
Similarly, another useful treatment involves preserving memory and learning functions through mental exercises. Introducing new learning skills and keeping your cat active can have a noticeable impact.
Naturally, as with many diseases, medication can help.
Cat Dementia Medication
In terms of medicine, the American Association of Feline Practitioners approved psychoactive drugs containing the active ingredient, selegiline.
If a qualified veterinarian diagnoses dementia and eliminates any drug interactions between selegiline and other medications, they can prescribe the drug.
Of course, we can do all of these things but, as we said, there is no cure. What is going to happen to your cat?
Prognosis: What Will Happen To My Cat?
Dementia is a progressive disease and, while there is no cure, you can take a few steps to keep your cat happy and safe.
In the early stages, symptoms may be quite mild. If you can slow the onset, your cat can continue to have a happy and fulfilling life.
However, for severe dementia, changes in your cat’s environment or routine can cause more stress.
According to a study by Houpt and Beaver, stress can make dementia symptoms more severe. For example, your senile cat may develop a lack of appetite and anorexia .
How To Take Care of Your Senile Cat with Dementia?
Sometimes, you can give your cat dietary supplements and medical care, or adjust their environment. However, cat owners should understand how dementia progresses.
With advanced dementia, change can actually cause more stress. As we have seen, this can exacerbate the symptoms.
Often, your senile cat will benefit from familiar surroundings and routines. In other words, try not to change her diet unless your vet advises you to do so. Moreover, it’s often a good idea to keep elderly cats indoors if they begin to show signs of getting lost.
A number of studies provide useful information about treating advanced cat dementia.
What Some of These Say
For example, Gunn-Moore recommends keeping changes to a minimum. They should be gradual to build trust.
Likewise, in some cases, Gunn-Moore suggests confining a cat with dementia to one single space or room. Of course, this includes everything he needs, such as bedding, water, and a litter box.
Although this might seem unkind, it can actually help your cat avoid unnecessary stress. Ultimately, you want to keep your cat as happy as possible!
In the same vein, Professor Christina Clarkson, at the University of Minnesota, explains that prevention can mitigate the severity of dementia. Moreover, she recommends making these changes at an early age. “A combination of healthy diet, supplements and exercise can go a long way as to decrease chances or severity of dementia.”
Your Senile Cat And Dementia – A Summary
In conclusion, cat dementia can be a distressing condition for cat and cat owner alike. These signs and symptoms of dementia in cats over fifteen years old are common. However, while dementia has many symptoms, these can be caused by other diseases.
In some cases, there are steps that can lower the risk of cat dementia. These include treatments that may help slow the progression of the disease and reduce the severity of its symptoms.
In short, house cats live longer than they used to, so senility and dementia are more common. Fortunately, you can make sure they live a happy, comfortable, and long life in a loving and considerate home.
We wish you all the best of luck in caring for your cat with dementia. As always, if you have any suggestions, or you want support, why not let us know in the comments section below.
References & Further Reading
2006. Feline form of Alzheimer’s. University of St Andrews.
Bolter, H. 2016. Cognitive dysfunction syndrome. How to help older cats with dementia. VETcpd – Feline.
Cognitive Disfunction In Cats. Cornell Feline Health Center.
Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome. Ohio State University.
Cory, J. 2012. Identification and management of cognitive decline in companion animals and the comparisons with Alzheimer disease: A review. Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research
Laflamme, D. 2014. Nutrition of Aging Cats. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice
Pittari, J et al. 2009. American Association of Feline Practitioners. Senior Care Guidelines. Journal of Feline Medicine & Surgery
Zhang, C et al. 2013. Morphological and Functional Alterations in Cerebral and Cerebellar Cortices of Old Cats. Journal of Animal & Plant Sciences
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My cat Alice is twenty years old she also deaf I know she has dementioner she also has a over active thyroid but can’t take the tablets while she was on them she hid wouldn’t eat so the vet stopped the medication she is always crying and howling don’t know what to do
Melanie,
I know you love your cat. But you need to ask yourself if your cat is getting the best quality of life here. She may be suffering and in that case the best and most humane thing to do would be to put her to sleep.
Thank you…….I needed your input. I have a cat over 16 years, and she is acting miserable. I feel it is better for Her if I have her put down…
I struggle ever day wondering if my boy cat is suffering. He has dementia for sure. He’s almost completely deaf and seems to have compromised sight. He’s on meds 3 times daily for arthritis and I’m almost positive that without them his restlessness and repeated behaviors would be much worse. The only time he looks happy is when he finally goes into a deep sleep for a few hours. If I was convinced he has little quality of life I, of course, would have to make that hideous decision but he purrs when cuddled and enjoys his food when he remembers he’s hungry! He stills cleans himself – not as fastidiously as he used to and still even ventures out occasionally. I’ve had cats all my life but have never experienced such a upsetting dilemma. It makes me very very sad and any help or some suggestions would be SO welcome.
Hello,
My boy kitty is 21 and certainly has dementia as well. He didn’t come in in a torrential all day rain, blessed with a neighbor who brought him home. He’s skin and bones, and is now an indoor kitty. We live in an area with much snow and cold to come.
So, he, too purrs and likes his food. And that is about it.
This is a gut wrenching decision. Ask yourself, as I am, is he comfortable? Are YOU comfortable? Only you can answer the “is it time” question. But he will help you, by his behavior.
Good luck to you and kitty.
Hello cat lovers, I am writing this piece in hopes that it might help some of you with older/senile cats. At this writing my cat is currently alive at 18 years of age. His name is Mr. Kitty. The good news is he is still eating and moving but that wasn’t always the case. At about 16 years of age I noticed many of his behaviors and personalities change. Mr. Kitty is stop purring, stop meowing, he was a very talkative cat. At about age 17 he stopped using the litter box, stop drinking water and began to lose interest in food, and he was a ferocious eater and overweight for most of his life. I am writing this to give you some suggestions as to what I tried and was successful in prolonging his life and keeping the quality decent. I took him to the vet a couple of times within the last year. His blood work is good, and he has most of his teeth, but he began to show all the signs of senility. Mr. Kitty became more Docile and would let me hold him which he rarely did when he was younger. I did some research and got my doctor to prescribe Anipril which is a human Alzheimer’s medicine that has been shown to improve quality of life in dogs and cats in most cases. I was also giving him a pain killer liquid to ease any arthritis. Mr. sometimes yowls at night, is always under my feet and can roll off the couch so I put a pillow down to break his fall. Because of his lack of litter box use, I put contractor plastic which has a sticky side to it on all of my carpeted areas that I allowed him to roam. I locked him out of my bedrooms also. Because he would pace the apartment incessantly and get stuck in the corners/closets etc. I angled pieces of cardboard in the corners to force him to keep moving and help stop him from getting stuck. Cats with senility/cognitive disorder need to be stimulated and since he follows me everywhere I go I began to take him for walks around our court yard without a leash, which is actually quite fun. The more I kept him stimulated mentally the better his zest for life seems to be. A few months ago, he stopped eating and was becoming out of it…Almost Catatonic pardon the pun…. I made an appointment to take him to the vet and have him put down, which was killing me. The night before I was supposed to take him in, out of frustration for his lack of eating I squatted down on the floor and held the plate of food up to his face and low and behold he began to eat. This continued the next day…I feed him pate with a little bit of water in it and believe it or not I drizzle heavy whipping cream over it…but usually I have to sit on a stool and hold the plate for him otherwise he loses some interest in the food. He now eats quite well and has gained some weight and has more energy. Needless to say, I canceled the Vet appointment the next day. My advice for all of you is to try some of my solutions, though I know all cats are different. Mr. Kitty is still genuinely inquisitive, is still eating, and he loves to help me in the garden. I am actually really enjoying Mr. Kitty as a senior, though I know this will not continue forever, but it does take some work, though less than dog care. I will enjoy his company, love taking care of him, and take things one day at a time. Good luck Dave
Dave, thank you for the story. That is very encouraging. I noticed my cat not eating last night but staring down at her food bowls. So I took first the bowl of water and held it up to her and she drank a lot. Then I held her food bowl up and she ate. Soon I moved her bowls to a crate that was the same height next to where she has been sitting. She ate throughout the night. Very encouraging!
Thank you Dave for sharing your story❣️ My Princess is 11 or 12. She looks great! Eats well! I’ve always fed her grain free!NO cheap food for the Princess? She Sleeps So Much tho 🙁 I hope to have her for many more years. I lost my Love bird at 21 years old…Princess and I miss her so much 🙁 Loosing Princess would be awful!
THX again
Thx again
Dave, I read your story and I am impressed by what you have done to give Mr. Kitty such a good quality of life, including finding a way to get him to eat vs putting him down. A last minute effort proved to give Mr. Kitty a good life. I am dealing with same my Maggie to be 15 on 4/1 (april fools kitty) has kidney failure, which fast forwarded a neurological movement disorder, and now she is getting dementia as well. I am making adjustments as needed she is my baby and she is in no pain, has quality life and I will do what I can to keep her healthy & happy and she is just has physical issues and now dementia (beginning). Prior to getting dementia I was able to teach her to walk up stairs to bed as she was no longer able to get in herself.. oddly she can do that still.. Most persistant cat I have ever encountered. She was shelter adopted and later found out she part Bengal which explained a lot.. I loved your story.. Gives me hope for a bright future for my Maggie.. Thanks for sharing..
My Siamese is 18 at least (shelter cat). The vet has ruled out everything but dementia and she has multiple symptoms. Thankfully she still uses the litter box. But I have to move in a few days and I’m wondering, after reading all this, that she may get more confused. I’ve already had to remind her where her food and water is. I have been able to get her to eat “Senior Delectables stew”, so she’s gaining weight back.
When I move, I normally put all her comfort things in a small room and a sign on that door not to go in there. But I’m sure she’lol freak out a bit.
So I’m so sad knowing this is only going to get worse. It breaks my heart! At my new place, I’ll be with her more often during the day.
Any other suggestions?
And when they are meowing at night, do we get up and comfort?
We just got the diagnosis that our boy, nearly 14, is early stage dementia.
I’ve had this before which is why l recognised it early – no real loss of appetite, no lack of grooming, no toilet issues; but l know what’s coming and my partner and l will sit down and decide at which point we will say goodbye before it happens.
lt’s obvious that you all love and adore your cats very very much, but l have to ask, are you keeping them alive for you or for them?
l don’t mean to be offensive – though it probably is coming across that way – but if your cat can barely eat, barely walk, cannot groom or toilet tproperly, is the fact they purr when they do eat and fall asleep enough?
You know them better than anyone. All those years of being vital, funny, active, scallywags ruling the roost and making your life better in a million diffetent ways. Do you honestly see that cat now? Or do you see a cat who has lived a wonderful life, tired and in need of rest?
lt’s awful making that decision – l know, and l’m crying as l write this; but if you’re wondering if it’s the right thing to do then it almost certainly is. We just don’t want it to be.
It’s not about us though, it’s about them. And it’s not fair to keep making their world smaller and smaller as they get sicker and sicker. Let them go. They’ll be at peace and you will be too.
I don’t know if there is a heaven or whatever, but l do know there is a cat heaven where all my beautiful cats are waiting for me, happy and healthy.
Sending love to you all
Sarah x
Thank you all for sharing. It’s really appreciated.
One of our cats–he’s nearing 14– seems to be acting strangely, so we are going to have him tested. BUT, we have 3 cats–all out door– and so other than the howling in the night, the wandering around at our feet, and his weight loss, he seems ok. Eats, uses the box, will still chase a string, cuddles in our arms.
Any suggestions on how to proceed with the 3 of them to monitor? He has also taken to jumping up on the kitchen table and counter.
Well wishes to you all and your beloved pets.
My cat is 18 years old and has been with me since the day she was born in my childhood closet. She started crying at night when we moved to our new apartment 2 years ago. She started showing more signs of dysfunction slowly and was eventually diagnosed with hyperthyroid and kidney disease. She was put on a special diet but eventually refused to eat it for 5 days until I remedied the situation with fancy feast which she eats freely now. My vet and I are not looking to cure her, but to manage her symptoms. During the day she is her usual sweet self, if a bit less playful. Walks, eat, drinks, uses the toilet properly, roams around our three story home. It is certainly too soon in this process to have her killed. However, at night, she becomes a bit agitated. I bring her into my bedroom at night now and she does not cry anymore. I have food and water in here which she consumes well. I have made her a nice bed next to mine that she likes and i can see her when she is sleeping. I use doggy training pads instead of a litter box in here because she gets confused and wanders around when she has to go but this has seemed to work. She uses the pads! Having a few out at night is good because she is awake and will go more than once. She still has her regular litter box in the same place outside my room. I’m wondering if there is anything else i can do to help her get through the nights. Though she doesn’t cry she seems agitated nearly the moment the sun sets. Last night she got herself caught on the desk chair by the paw so it looks like i am going to have to cut her nails, which i have never done before, but i dont think will be too difficult as she lets me handle her paws happily. Any other ideas for keeping her calm at night??? Should I leave music or radio playing? Certain scents that might be calming? Lighting changes? She currently takes cerenia, methimazole, and gabapentin. Thank you so much.