Feline Dementia

Feline dementia is a condition that affects older cats. Feline dementia is also known as cognitive dysfunction syndrome, and is treatable under the care of an experienced veterinarian.

  1. Symptoms

    • Common symptoms of feline dementia include loud or strange vocalizations, sudden change in litter box behavior (missing the box more often), excessive sleeping, decreased appetite and decreased grooming or poorly groomed coat. Your cat may also seem confused by its surroundings.

    Causes

    • Feline dementia occurs in cats who are elderly, due to the degeneration of the cat's cognitive abilities (the abilities to think clearly).

    Diagnosis

    • Your veterinarian will check your cat for other medical conditions such as thyroid disease, brain disease, hearing loss or simple behavioral problems. Once other medical problems have been ruled out, dementia is the likely cause of your cat's problems.

    Treatment

    • Your veterinarian will prescribe medication such as analpril for your cat's dementia, or may recommend homeopathic remedies or environmental changes to improve your cat's quality of life.

    Considerations

    • There is no known cure for feline dementia. Once diagnosed, the symptoms can only be managed, never eliminated.