Does Your Cat Have Alzheimer's?

10 Symptoms of Feline Dementia

Jan 22, 2008
Sue Cartledge

Cardhu, the cat with CDS - Dr Danièlle Gunn-Moore

Cats, like their human companions, are living longer, and like people, can get diseases of old age such as arthritis, high blood pressure, kidney problems and dementia.

Scottish veterinary surgeon, Dr Danièlle Gunn-Moore, of the University of Edinburgh's Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, has researched feline dementia, which could affect 28% of pet cats aged 11 to 14, and 50% of older cats.

Dr Gunn-Moore and fellow researchers at the Universities of Edinburgh, St Andrews, Bristol and California have identified a key protein which can build up in the nerve cells of a cat's brain and cause mental deterioration.

Sticky plaques form on the outside of the cat’s brain in the same way that plaques form on the brains of people who develop Alzheimer’s disease.

As in humans suffering from Alzheimer's disease, the protein creates ‘tangles’ inside the nerve cells which inhibit messages being processed by the brain.

Her research was published in the Journal of Feline Medicine & Surgery

Cardhu, the Cat with CDS

Dr Gunn-Moore’s interest in feline dementia was sparked when her own cat, Cardhu developed cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS), a group of symptoms that can lead to feline dementia.

12-year-old Cardhu had chronic kidney failure and controlled hypertension, and showed signs of senility -- inappropriate vocalisation and occasional episodes of disorientation.

His condition spurred her on to research diseases of ageing in cats, particularly CDS and dementia

Cardhu lived for two more years after being diagnosed, but developed progressive CDS despite anti-hypertensives, food supplements and environmental changes to make life easier for him.

Treatment Options for Feline Dementia

Cats with CDS or feline dementia can still enjoy life if their symptoms are recognised early enough. Treatment options include:

food fortified with antioxidants and vitamins,
a stimulating environment with toys and playtimes with their favourite human
medications prescribed by the vet.

However cats who have advanced dementia or CDS need to feel safe, and might not cope with changes to their food or routine that could frighten or confuse them.

Such cats should have a safe quiet space, perhaps just one room, where they can find everything easily and feel in control.

Dr Gunn-Moore also suggests applying synthetic feline appeasement pheromone to the cat’s rug or cushion can help to calm stressed or nervous animals.

Prescription Medications for Feline Dementia

Medications that help alleviate the symptoms of feline dementia include:

cholinesterase inhibitors to increase the availability of acetyl choline at the neuronal synapses,
selegiline to manipulate the monoaminergic system,
antioxidants (for example, vitamin E) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce neuronal damage

10 Clues that Your Cat Has Dementia

1. Spatial disorientation or confusion - getting trapped in corners or forgetting the location of the litter box. House-soiling is the most common reason for referral of old cats to animal behaviouralists.

2. Altered relationships either with their owners or other pets in the household - increased attention seeking or aggression

3. Increased irritability or anxiety, or decreased response to stimuli

4. Changes in sleeping patterns

5. Inappropriate vocalisation such as loud crying at night

6. Loss of memory, such as forgetting commands or breaking house training

7. Changes in activity - aimless wandering or pacing, or reduced activity

8. Lack of interest in food, although some cats actually want more food.

9. Decreased grooming

10. Confusion about time, such as forgetting that they have just been fed

Get Help for Your Cat

If you are concerned you cat might have dementia, do please see a veterinary surgeon. They will be able to advise on medications, changes to diet and other actions you could take to make your feline companion more comfortable. As with dementia in human, there is no actual cure, but there are things you can do to reduce their anxiety and unhappiness and help them live a more comfortable old age.

Your Cat Might be Unhappy Rather than Demented

For information on the emotional needs of cats see Is Your Cat Unhappy?

You might also like to read: Acupuncture for Cats and Dogs

Science and health journalist Sue Cartledge, Sue Cartledge

Sue Cartledge - I'm a science, health, nutrition and lifestyle journalist, fascinated by the way the physical world operates in all its forms, and how ...

Dr Danièlle Gunn-Moore & Mortlach - Dr Danièlle Gunn-Moore

Comments

Jun 9, 2008 5:12 AM

Guest :

A very helpful site. My dearly loved cat is now 16. She was kicked from here to kingdom come 18 months ago, until then she was OK. Fortunately she survived with the help of the vet. She has recently had a Geriatric Profile and is on Fortekor 2.5 and has Hills Prescription Diet k/d. She never liked soft food so the 'pellets' suit her fine. She has now started "night howls" but these can be during the day too and not always. It seems if she goes out at night for the toilet, when she returns to the house she forgets which floor I am on so she howls for me. She stops as soon as she sees me. She is slowing down and just loves to lie in the garden or the sunshine. Is there any supplement I can give her to aid this onset of dimentia and where can I buy it?

Thank you.
e.newbery@btinternet.com

Aug 27, 2008 8:51 AM

Guest :

My female cat has just reached twenty! About six months ago, she was given 'weeks' to live from Chronic Renal Failure, after her blood test figures were about 300 & 30! Her life saver has been - fish fingers - seriously, when she wouldn't eat anything else - there was always fish fingers - even helped her arthritis. Otherwise she is quite content to eat tesco's or asda's flatpacks - the less lumpy the better.
Lately though she has got back the habit of an insisted need to go outside to drink rainwater (have previously got over this by giving her water from the waterbutt).
What we have a problem though with is two-fold. The miaOOOOWOOOWING, sounds you just wouldn't credit to such a small animal! And her unfortunate need either for food or for a drink outside at times between 5.00 - 6.30 am, but the record is 3.00 am !! Yet even before her need to drink, we can be aware of her restlessnes - pacing about & miaowows.
We try to be patient with her, because we know she is an ill cat, nevertheless it is trying - especially when all we want to do is sleep!
Any suggestions would be welcome - help.
Thank you

g.paul.heath@ntlworld.com

Jul 12, 2010 4:49 AM

Guest :

This article is excellant, it has made up my mind, my cat (who is 16 1/2 years, with Chronic Kidney Failure, for three years) while outside last week could mot recognise me at all. He tried everything he could to escape and eventually ran away up the street, and was out for six hours, longer than his normal time. Even on return he was still petrified of me. Taking him to the vets where I work, it seemed they did not believe me even asking if he was my cat. He has while sleeping woke up miowing, unitl I come up to him and give him comfort. I have decided not to let him out, for my own fears, he does not seem that bothered that he isn't going out, which again isn't like him. He has always been an outdoor cat. I was told by the vet if he is having mental problems he would start to loose use of his legs, this isn't happening. I believed it was like Alzheimers, but felt I was reading too much into his behaviour. Thank You for this article, I will have a word with the vet and ask about this disorder. ThankYou

Jul 17, 2010 12:52 PM

Guest :

Answered our questions on Dimentia. Our "Baby" turned 18 last March and has shown, what we suspected as, signs of Dimentia for quite some time. We feel you have confirmed that. However, we hesitate taking her to the Vet, as we feel she is to old and fragile and we don't want to put her through that stress. We now know that there are reasons for this behavior. We love her very much and will continue to care for her until her end comes. Thank you for your advice.

Jul 31, 2010 8:04 AM

Guest :

Sounds rather like my grandmother's cat. He goes from being normally sociable and sweet to weird and biting. He gets a funny look in his eyes and makes an odd noise, then starts biting. Also does the yowling at night bit.

Oct 29, 2010 3:32 PM

Guest :

We have 2 very old little gals that have been showing signs of dementia for a while now, but this article helped me to understand it better. Our oldest cat Spaz will soon be 19 years old. She did that howling meowing stuff for a long time, but she has even stopped that now. Her once beautiful silky fur is now falling out and looks oily. We have to keep both cats in a very small area away from our grandchildren to keep them stress free. Shannon is only 15 years old, but she has the same problems. Spaz used to be mean and nasty to everyone except my self, my husband and my children...but now her behavior is totally different! She purrs and is friendly to anyone who visits her now. She has forgotten she was a cranky girl! We love them dearly, but feel that since the weight loss is starting we will not have them much longer. We will miss them, they have been with us since they were kittens.

Apr 12, 2011 5:33 PM

Guest :

A helpful article.
Our eldest cat, a rescue of some years now, has dementia. He definitely gets 'stuck' in corners (he can't do reverse), his howling in the middle of the night is sometimes loud enough to wake the neighbourhood (luckily we have learnt, gradually, over the last year to 'zone it out' and can at long last sleep again!!), and at feeding time he walks around in circles and every time he sees his food again he thinks it is the first time he had been fed (goodness - they feed me seven times in a morning/ afternoon/night!). He is also a lot more aggresive towards our other three cats which at times is difficult.
We have learnt to adapt some of his habits to our advantage. He always sleeps more after eating (so we feed him as late as possible at night), he has always liked sleeping under the duvet (so after he has settled at night on the settee we cover him with a cover (that he can easly get out of) and this makes him feel secure at night). We have learnt several distraction methods when he gives his sole attention to the other cats and wants to 'kill' them (not always succcessful because when his brain get locked onto something it isn't easily shifted).
Not easy and it has been a bit of a baptism of fire as this is the first cat with dementia we have had. Still................ he's still our Oscar baby!

Apr 19, 2011 4:52 PM

Guest :

Great article. It sheds light on the "differences" we've seen in our own cats behavior.

May 4, 2011 11:37 AM

Guest :

We just had our 14 year old cat put down, due to diabetes and dementia. He would get very confused about his eating and would go back and forth from his kitty litter to his food maybe three or four times before stopping, and he would look at you with a bewildered look. I didn't know this is what he had until the day we put him down. I know he is now in a better place, but it is hard for us(my husband and I) to let him go. Thank you, Debbie Hope

Jan 10, 2012 2:42 PM

Guest :

Thanks for the informative article. My 23 year old cat (her sister died last year at 22) has just started becoming disorientated and actually gave me a very bad bite a few days ago - which I then had to get tetanus and antibiotics for. she then used the kid's lego box - as her kitty litter tray which she has never done before -- and it is in an entirely different room... also forgets she has been fed - and cries at night..... think this may be her last summer with us :(. Good to read this article tho. ta

Apr 9, 2012 7:50 PM

Guest :

Excellent article. While I am not sure my 16 year old 'Noche' has dementia as I suspected, I am much better educated about possible options and responses, should the symptoms described, develop.

She is a tough feline, having had a leg amputated, losing most of her teeth and her sister/companion 'Dia', just a year ago. To top that off, her owner moved her from her home in Phoenix, to Mexico City. However, she is now an indoor cat only, allowing a much better observation of her routine and habits.

I also know that I shall make a few changes to her environment, to better comfort her. Most importantly, I shall do what is necessary to make the rest of her life comfortable and as happy as possible.

I shall follow your guide and seek feline knowledge and wisdom from you in the future.

My heartfelt gratitude. Amy

11 Comments