People who have decided to welcome a cat into their home disagree with that popular idea that describes the cat as a surly and excessively independent animal, since these are not characteristics inherent to its genuine behavior.
A domesticated cat lives an average of 15 years and during this time, the emotional bond that can be formed with its owner is undoubtedly very strong, in addition, accompanying our pets throughout their different life stages and during aging, it comforts us as owners.
During aging we will observe multiple changes in the cat, some of them pathological but unfortunately associated with old age. In this AnimalWised article we talk about the symptoms and treatment of senile dementia in cats.
What is senile dementia?
Senile dementia in cats is known as feline cognitive dysfunction, which refers to cognitive abilities / understanding of the environment that they begin to be diminished approximately from 10 years of age.
In cats over 15 years of age, this pathology is very common and its manifestation includes a wide variety of symptoms ranging from joint problems to hearing problems.
This disorder diminishes the quality of life of the cat, therefore it is important that we remain vigilant because understanding the disorder will help us to improve the life of our pet.
Symptoms of senile dementia in cats
A cat affected by senile dementia may experience one or more of the following symptoms:
- Confusion: It is the most predominant symptom, the cat is wandering and confused, since it is possible that it does not remember where it is their food or their litter box.
- Changes in behavior: The cat demands more attention or on the contrary becomes aggressive.
- Increased meows: When the cat meows repeatedly during the night, it may be expressing disorientation in the dark, which causes nervousness and anxiety.
- Changes in sleep patterns: Cat shows loss of interest and spends much of the day sleeping, instead night wanders.
- Grooming changes: Cats are very clean animals that spend much of the day grooming themselves, the cat with senile dementia has lost interest in their own grooming and we can observe the less shiny and well-groomed coat.
If you notice any of these symptoms in your cat, it is essential that you go to the vet as soon as possible.
Treatment of senile dementia in cats
The treatment of senile dementia in cats is not used with the aim of reversing the situation, since unfortunately this is not possible and the neurological damage caused by old age cannot be recovered in any way, Pharmacological treatment in these cases is intended so that the loss of cognition stops and does not worsen.
For this, a drug containing the active ingredient selegiline is used, but this does not imply that it is suitable for all cats, in fact, only the veterinarian can assess in each case if it is necessary to implement a Pharmacotherapy.
How to care for a cat with senile dementia
As we mentioned at the beginning of the article, at home we can do a lot to improve our cat's quality of life, let's see below how:
- Minimize changes to the cat's environment, eg don't change the layout of the furniture
- Reserve a room where your cat can stay quiet when you have visitors, since excessive stimulation in the environment is not good for him
- Don't move his accessories around, if he goes outside, supervise him and when you come back home, leave him in his space, so that he doesn't get disoriented
- Increases the frequency of play sessions but reduces their duration, it is very important that the cat remains exercised within its possibilities during old age
- Wash your cat, with a soft-bristled brush to help keep his coat in good condition
- Place ramps if your cat cannot access the usual places where he liked to spend some time
