Everyone – myself included – wants their cat to live forever. But it’s important to remember that as the years add up, the likelihood of your feline friend developing age-related health issues also increases.
Cat dementia, also called feline cognitive dysfunction.
Can cats get dementia?
Gary Landsberg, an Ontario-based veterinary behaviorist, has seen his fair share over the past few decades. He describes it as a progressive neurodegenerative disease that “exhibits many similarities to Alzheimer’s disease in humans, particularly in its early stages”.
Of course, while it’s easy to feel this, pet owners aren’t entirely helpless when it comes to making sure their senior cats are as comfortable as possible, even after a diagnosis of dementia.
“We can, especially the earlier we diagnose, improve quality of life,” says Landsberg, currently veterinary scientific director at the research organization CanCog and head of research at Without fear. “If your GP vet is seen regularly, they can manage and manage [symptoms] right from the start, when first detected.
Here’s what you need to know to make sure that’s possible.
Learn more: Determining whether dementia is uniquely human
Signs of Dementia in Cats
Wondering when you should start keeping a watchful eye?
Although cats can’t communicate verbally with us, “some laboratory studies show loss of learning ability and memory in cats as young as 6 to 8 years old,” says Landsberg. “Evident clinical signs usually do not appear until after 11 a.m. and increase from then on.”
VISHDAAL
And just as the age of onset can vary depending on the aging cat in question, the symptoms they exhibit can also vary. Some UK-based researchers have suggested using the acronym VISHDAAL to keep things straight.
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V — excessive vocalization
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I — social changes interaction
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S — changes in sleep habits
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H— house soiling
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D- disorientation
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A — changes in activity
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Increased anxiety
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I- learning and/or memory problems
Landsberg notes that some of these changes fall on a spectrum. For example, some cats may display suddenly increased sociability, while others display reduced sociability; similarly, some may sleep more and others less.
Unsurprisingly, all of these signs are more likely to go unnoticed if the cat spends most of its time outdoors and away from family. But even for indoor cats, Landsberg says, the most observant owners may still have trouble recognizing some changes.
“Cats are more likely to show subtle behavioral changes,” he says, adding that it’s typical for them to avoid family members altogether if they’re not feeling well. “If cats hide or don’t interact as much with owners, they are less likely to notice the subtle changes in behavior.”
There’s a lot of things we still don’t know
Research has shown that felines and canine cognitive dysfunction share many similarities, especially with respect to clinical signs, age of onset of progression, and brain pathology.
“[Yet] there haven’t been many studies on the prevalence in cats, compared to multiple studies in different countries around the world looking at the prevalence in dogs,” Landsberg says.
He suggests researchers are getting more into the mysteries of canine dementia because man’s best friend is a model of how the human brain ages. But that doesn’t mean cats are totally in the dark.
Prevalence of Feline Cognitive Dysfunction
In fact, one of the first studies on the prevalence of feline cognitive dysfunction was done by Landsberg and colleagues. It was published in the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association in 2003.
“We examined cats entering our medical practice that were over 11 years old at the time. We assessed them for behavioral signs; we did medical checkups on them,” he says.
They found that almost 30% of cats between the ages of 11 and 14 showed signs of cognitive dysfunction (namely changes in social interactions). That percentage jumped to almost 50%, however, when the team looked at cats over 15 years old.
This group of older cats displayed, on average, a different set of behavioral changes: aimless activity and excessive vocalization. Just a few decades ago, Landsberg says, any of these behaviors could have been dismissed as mere “old age” and gone undiagnosed.
Fortunately, that is changing.
Learn more: Signs of Dementia in Dogs
Does my cat have dementia?
As pet owners become more knowledgeable about the various symptoms associated with cognitive dysfunction, Landsberg says, they report them more during routine veterinary visits. This is a good thing.
Early diagnosis
“The sooner you diagnose [age-related health issues] and don’t think of them as part of normal aging, the better you can manage and prevent their progression,” he says.
During these routine visits, which Landsberg recommends about twice a year starting at age 7 or 8, owners are encouraged to report any changes in behavior they may have noticed. Sometimes this may include completing a screening or medical history questionnaire, but not always.
Physical examination
The vet will also perform a physical exam for signs of age-related issues, such as sensory decline, dental disease, or heart disease, which owners may not have noticed yet. Finally, laboratory tests may reveal any other abnormalities even before outward clinical signs have had a chance to manifest themselves.
When troubling symptoms appear and cognitive dysfunction is suspected, Landsberg says “the very first thing in treatment is to identify potential medical issues and treat them, because sometimes the signs improve.”
Pain-related symptoms
Certain thyroid and kidney diseases, for example, can also cause some of the signs associated with cognitive decline. The hardest signs to identify, according to Landsberg, are related to pain (think arthritis) because cats often don’t limp.
Instead, as mentioned earlier, they might just be less active or less social in order to hide their pain. On the other hand, a decrease in social interactions can also be explained by hearing and visual loss.
“It’s hard to make the distinction because older animals — and people — have multiple issues,” Landsberg admits. “You don’t just get an aging brain without aging other organs.”
Cat dementia treatment
Unfortunately, even after other medical issues have been ruled out and it appears that cognitive dysfunction is to blame, there aren’t many medical or dietary therapies to turn to.
Food supplements
There are some nutritional supplements that might prove useful, Landsberg says, though few have been evaluated for use in cats — and he declined to name some brands. Instead, he suggests looking for those that contain antioxidants like Vitamins C and E, or those that support mitochondrial function via L-carnitine, beta-carotene and fatty acids.
Medication
When it comes to medications, there are a few that are only marketed for dogs. Instead, Landsberg suggests, you may want to give your cat medications intended to improve behavioral changes caused by cognitive dysfunction — rather than the cognitive dysfunction itself.
“We have medication for anxiety [or pain] that we could use for any cat. We just have to be more careful with the dosage and choices of these medications for senior cats,” he says, adding that natural products like pheromones and melatonin are also potential options.
Lifestyle changes
Beyond dietary supplements and medications, lifestyle changes are another great option. Landsberg recommends making sure your cat gets plenty of physical and mental enrichment every day, especially if they can’t see or move well and need a little stimulation.
“Maybe they don’t see as well, so you have to bring the little play toy closer,” he says. “[If] they have difficulty climbing, keep them on the same level or facilitate the ascents.
Also, pay attention to stressors around the house (like a new puppy, perhaps) and provide your cat with a safe place away from these potential triggers. Somewhere up high, away from other people is always a good idea if the cat is able to get there easily. Alternatively, if it’s within your means, maybe give the cat its own little room to really get away from it all.
Ultimately, your feline friend will appreciate any effort you put into improving their health and happiness.
Learn more: How long can cats be left alone?