Cognitive Dysfunction (Dementia) In Cats

As our knowledge of cat care improves, we are seeing a general increase in the life expectancy of our feline friends. In the USA, there has been a 15% increase in the number of cats over ten years old in the last 20 years. In the United Kingdom, it is currently estimated that there are over 2.5 million “senior” cats, which make up approximately 30% of the pet cat population! This is wonderful, but does mean that we are seeing more cases of diseases typically associated with older age.

As people age they are likely to become a little more forgetful, and perhaps not as ‘sharp’ as in their youth. This can be perfectly normal, but we know that in some people this is severe and associated with disease – in people, we call this dementia.

Sadly, our cats can get a very similar problem, which is called ‘cognitive dysfunction syndrome’ (CDS). CDS can affect all breeds of cat, and typically is seen in cats over 8-10 years old. Very much like our human Alzheimer’s CDS is diagnosed by behavioural changes, as degeneration in the brain leads to loss of learned behaviours and changes in sociability.

CDS is much more common than you might think – a study suggested that 28% of pet cats aged 11 to 14 years develop at least one geriatric-onset behaviour problem that appears to relate to CDS, and this increases to over 50% for cats of 15 years of age or older!

As CDS is degenerative, sadly affected cats are likely to worsen with time, which is known as cognitive decline.

As it is very difficult to look at the brain without expensive scanning, CDS is diagnosed using behavioural changes. While some changes in behaviour are expected with old age, it is important to know some of the more worrying signs, so that if your cat has developed CDS you can get supportive care started as early as possible.

If you are seeing any of these signs, it’s important to speak to your local Vets4Pets vet. They can take a good look at your cat and see if the signs may be related to CDS, or if there could be another underlying cause. They may need to do blood tests or other testing to rule out different problems – for example, not getting into the litter tray could be due to pain from arthritis. By taking a full history and appropriate tests, your vet will be able to tell you the likelihood your cat is suffering from CDS.

• Excessive vocalization (noise making), especially at night
• Aimless activity
• Confusion within the home, such as forgetting where their belongings are
• Losing balance and falling more frequently
• Changes in interaction, including reduced greeting behaviour, or becoming ‘clingy’
• Changes in their sleeping pattern, moving to being more awake at night and sleeping more in the day
• Toileting in the house

DS is a lifelong problem, and cannot be cured. Thankfully the signs can be managed, however, and many cats are responsive to supportive care which can make a huge difference. Just like in people, the right diet and mental stimulation can go a long way to supporting brain health and slowing the progression of degenerative brain disease.

Some top tips for helping cats with CDS include:

• Routine. Routine is much easier for cats with CDS as they struggle to cope with change.
• Area. If your cat is struggling to find their way around, try limiting the space they have access to.
• Reduce stress. Cats with CDS find coping with stress very difficult – this can include going into a cattery and gatherings of people.
• Medication. You may want to discuss with your local Vets4Pets vet if medication or supplements might be suitable for your cat. Most of these are ‘off-licence’ in cats (meaning they are not specifically designed to treat cats), so you may have to sign a special consent form to use them.
• Plenty of toilet opportunities. Housetraining problems can be very frustrating. Make sure to offer your cat plenty of litter trays, keep them meticulously clean, and use trays with low sides to make them as easy as possible to access.
• Regular check-ups. Keep in touch with your vet, and make sure to monitor your cat.
• Interaction. If your cat likes company make sure to spend time with them every day. This could be play, if they are still up for it, or simply grooming, petting and spending time together.
• Timings. If your cat is awake all night, try engaging with them more in the day to tire them out.