Dementia in Cats: Symptoms and Practical Tips for Owners
Also cats can suffer from dementia. High-quality food and ever-improving medical care steadily increases the life expectancy cats, which may be the reason why
After all, cats nowadays often approach an age of up to 20 years. In this context, it cannot be ruled out that your senior citizen will at some point suffer from certain age-related complaints such as decreasing eyesight or dementia.
In the following article you will find out which symptoms possibly point to dementia and how you can support your cat’s wellbeing.
Possible signs of dementia in cats
Dementia is a complex disease and it can be hard to recognize the symptoms. It's possible that the situations will become more frequent and your aging four-legged friend will have more and more problems in everyday life.
If certain symptoms occur more frequently, it is likely that your cat is suffering from dementia.
Some of the signs that could indicate dementia in your cat include:
- Loud meowing or even crying that you can't explain (especially at night)
- Disorientation and obvious problems with spatial perception
- Behavioural disorders such as fear or aggressiveness without any recognisable cause
- Forgetfulness and increasing problems in the implementation of learned skills
- Changes in previous sleeping habits, such as waking up frequently
- Inner restlessness and seemingly aimless running around
- Increased need for sleep and decreased activity
- Increasing decrease in reaction when addressed directly
- Occasional incontinence, because the litter box seems to be lost
A visit to the vet will show if your cat has dementia
If you suspect that your cat is suffering from dementia, we recommend a visit to the vet. The vet can look after your ageing pet, investigate the cause of the behavioural problems and check whether cognitive dysfunction is present.
Of course, the complaints do not necessarily have to be caused by dementia. After all, it is quite possible that they have organic causes. For example, incontinence can be the symptom of a bladder infection and an increased need for rest can also be caused by another disease.
Therefore, you should have your quadruped thoroughly examined so that other diseases can be excluded or treated. Even if dementia in cats cannot be cured, you can improve the quality of life of your pet in many ways and at least slow down the course of the disease.
How you should deal with your cat's dementia
Be aware that sooner or later, dementia for your cat will be associated with serious cuts in everyday life. These will possibly frighten your four-legged friend and cause him to lose a bit of his zest for life.
It is in your hands to prevent this and to make your cat's old age as pleasant as possible despite dementia.
To this end, we recommend first of all that you adapt your home to suit the needs of senior citizens if necessary. After all, strength also decreases with age and larger jumps become increasingly difficult.
You should therefore buy a flatter litter box, for example, and ensure that the sleeping places are as easy to reach as possible. This is not only useful in view of possible dementia and to avoid injuries, but also in case of osteoarthritis in your cat.
Give your cat with senile dementia attention
As a rule, dementia also progresses in cats. As a result, your four-legged friend will find it harder and harder to find his way around and will increasingly depend on your support.
It is therefore essential that you give your cat sufficient closeness and attention. This will help her to calm down and reduce any fears she may have. In addition, it has proven to be a good idea to set up fixed daily routines to help cats with dementia find their way around and improve their well-being.
Games train the brain and provide variety
It is known that the course of dementia in humans can often be considerably delayed by regular training of the brain. It is therefore a good idea to provide your cat with the appropriate opportunities and actively encourage him to play.
For this purpose, skill games for cats such as homemade fumbling boards or clicker training are particularly suitable.
Even if your cat is not usually so easily attracted to such activities, it is worthwhile to keep up with the progress of dementia.
Useful food supplement for cats with dementia
Of course you should pay attention with your quadruped to a balanced and species-appropriate nutrition with a high-quality cat food.
If your cat suffers from dementia, it can also be useful to support your four-legged friend with suitable food supplements.
We recommend Shiimun Calm for this purpose. This easily digestible preparation provides your cat with valuable nutrients from shiitake, brewer's yeast and other high-quality, natural ingredients.
Thanks to its special composition, Shiimun Calm can be used as a dietary supplement in a gentle way to help your four-legged friend to be calmer and more balanced. Especially for the well-being of cats with dementia this can make a huge difference.
Leave your comment