{"id":2113,"date":"2021-02-20T03:31:35","date_gmt":"2021-02-20T03:31:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/petbrilliant.com\/?p=2113"},"modified":"2022-08-08T03:10:55","modified_gmt":"2022-08-08T03:10:55","slug":"do-cats-get-dementia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/petbrilliant.com\/do-cats-get-dementia\/","title":{"rendered":"Do Cats Get Dementia?"},"content":{"rendered":"<!--CusAds0-->\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Is Cat Dementia?<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vet.cornell.edu\/departments-centers-and-institutes\/cornell-feline-health-center\/health-information\/feline-health-topics\/cognitive-dysfunction\" target=\"_blank\">What is Cat Dementia<\/a>? If you&#8217;ve had a pet or are considering getting one, you know that they are like members of the family. However, with the passing of time and their advanced years, it becomes more likely for them to develop Alzheimer&#8217;s disease. What is <a href=\"https:\/\/petbrilliant.com\/why-does-my-cat-bite-me-when-im-sleeping\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cat<\/a> Dementia?<\/p><!--CusAds0--><!--CusAds0--><!--CusAds0-->\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/JaR6Br7.jpg\" alt=\"What is cat dementia\"\/>\r\n<!--CusAds0-->\r\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have ever had an older cat that seems to be losing it and begins to show signs of confusion or trouble concentrating, chances are he\/she is suffering from Alzheimer&#8217;s. As time passes, the cat becomes less receptive to commands and starts to act as if it&#8217;s not even there. He will become less responsive to your voice and eyes, and they may even start trying to escape.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The cat may become disoriented and begin to wander around in circles instead of staying still. Eventually, your cat may become quite confused and lose their mind.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/vethelpdirect.com\/vetblog\/2014\/05\/08\/does-your-cat-have-dementia-a-guide-for-owners-of-older-felines\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Alzheimer&#8217;s disease has no cure at this time<\/a>. It does however need to be managed and controlled in order to prolong the life of your cat.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your veterinarian can give you information on how to help him or her in managing this disease. Since this condition often goes undetected, many owners have to learn to cope with their cat&#8217;s behavioral changes in order to keep it healthy and happy.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you suspect you or your pet may be suffering from this disorder, contact your veterinarian today to discuss treatment options.<br>https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ngkoSNKZpC8<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ufeffSigns of Dementia in Cats<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/FQS4JQd.png\" alt=\"cat dementia if cat shows signs of difficulty in nagivation\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Many of us think that a cat with dementia is going to have to be diagnosed with Alzheimer&#8217;s disease, but there are a number of other symptoms that will need to be looked for.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/petbrilliant.com\/how-to-care-for-a-cat\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Cat behavior problems<\/a>&nbsp;can be very different from human behavior, and as such, your vet can also look for other signs of dementia in the cat before recommending an Alzheimer&#8217;s treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Nagivation is a common symptom in cats with dementia<\/strong>. It&#8217;s very easy to diagnose because the cat is trying to relieve themselves.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The cat may be trying to scratch its ears or scratch its body, and it may even urinate or defecate where it shouldn&#8217;t be doing this.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you find that your cat is acting strangely about the time that you bring it food or water, you may have a problem. You will need to take your cat to the veterinarian to be checked out and get an ear check, to make sure that they are not suffering from blockages.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">They may be having problems with their digestive systems.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Another symptom that many owners notice is that the cat&#8217;s eyes are starting to droop. This is often seen as the cat starts to get older, as its vision becomes less.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s easy to spot this symptom in a cat that is aging because the eyes vision is not that clear as used to be.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>This could also happen when your cat starts to age because the eye muscles and the nerves become weaker and the cat starts losing the ability to see clearly<\/strong>. If you think that your cat may be showing signs of dementia, and they start to lose the ability to perform normal tasks, they should be seen by a veterinarian.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How to Tell If Your Cat Is Dying and What to Do\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/3g3U62487Zg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Does your cat seem to be acting strange when it gets older, especially if you are noticing that its appetite has decreased over time?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Is your cat sleeping all the time now and waking up in the middle of the night for no reason at all?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have any doubts at all about whether or not your cat is experiencing some form of dementia then there are several ways that you can get your cat evaluated by a veterinarian.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although cat dementia is not a disease in itself, it can affect the quality of life and quality of sleep your cat experiences.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In some cases, even if you feed your cat properly and take it out on a regular basis, they may not be able to sleep due to the stress involved in their aging process and this can lead to other health problems down the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/EBsn4KT.png\" alt=\"cat dementia if cat changes sleeping patterns\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The first thing you should do if cat changes sleeping patterns is to take your cat to the vet. This is because your vet can help determine which medications your cat is taking which may be causing it to lose its appetite. Your vet will also be able to tell you which medications or supplements your cat is consuming to deal with its loss of appetite. In many cases your vet can help with other issues as well such as behavioral therapy, exercise and even acupuncture if cat is losing appetite due to arthritis or other issues. In cases where your cat seems to have lost interest in eating or sleeping, a visit to the veterinarian is definitely in order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cat dementia is a serious problem that can cause health issues over time. Because of their small size, cats tend to not experience much pain and may not be aware of any problems. However, in cats that are suffering from dementia the only way to know for sure is to have them evaluated by a veterinarian. It is important that you never rush to <a href=\"https:\/\/petbrilliant.com\/can-cows-eat-horse-treats\/\">treat your cat&#8217;s symptoms and if your cat seems to be having problems sleeping and eating<\/a>, make an appointment to have them evaluated by a vet as soon as possible. Cats need to be monitored closely because their brain is much more complex than the rest of our bodies. If they are not treated properly, their symptoms can start to progress and eventually they may be unable to function properly without constant medical care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How to Look After a Dying Cat - Palliative care.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9hiy79p1t4M?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br>Cat Dementia If Cat Reduced Interest In Eating<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/tWyZD78.jpg\" alt=\"cat dementia if cat reduced interest in eating patterns\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Cat dementia if cat reduced interest in eating is a condition that occurs when your cat starts to exhibit signs of boredom and neglect. Your cat will begin to eat less, become lethargic and seem to be unable to focus. In cats, this condition is a type of selective deficiency and the body&#8217;s attempt to compensate by reducing the appetite. The cat will usually experience a change in appetite as early as one week of the disease. After that time, it is difficult to reverse the loss of appetite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The first sign of cat dementia if cat decreased interest in eating is the reduction in its appetite.&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">If you see your cat lose appetite after three weeks or after two months, you should see your vet to ensure that your cat is not suffering from a condition called osteodysplasia.&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>T\ufeffhis is a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wiktionary.org\/wiki\/osteodysplasia#:~:text=Noun,Any%20abnormal%20development%20of%20bone\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">hereditary disorder that causes abnormal bone growth<\/a><\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cats with osteodysplasia can develop cataracts which are thick deposits of hardening material around the eye.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These deposits block the vision and cause loss of interest in eating patterns. Your vet will be able to diagnose osteodysplasia and give you the proper treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the disease advances, your cat may also experience a reduction in its appetite. If you see your cat losing weight after seven weeks or after six months, you should visit your vet to ensure that your cat is not suffering from diabetes mellitus. Cats with diabetes mellitus frequently display a loss of appetite.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>betes mellitus results in a dramatic drop in cat energy levels. Cats with diabetes are also at risk for seizures and kidney failure. Your vet will be able to diagnose cat dementia and treat it appropriately.<\/p><!--CusAds0-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br>How to Tell If Your Cat Has Dementia<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>How do you know if your cat has dementia if he\/she starts to behave strangely, such as not wanting to use the litter tray, or refusing to go outside. In some cases it can even be a symptom of Parkinson&#8217;s disease in humans. Cats with dementia can lose their minds and become completely unresponsive to their owners, and when they do get into a physical fight with them, they tend to forget about everything and just want to play. The most common place that cats with dementia often forget to visit is their litter box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/MWun8jE.jpg\" alt=\"cat dementia if cat forget where to litter box is located\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Cats normally go to the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/petbrilliant.com\/littermaid-lm980-mega-self-cleaning-litterbox-review\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">litter box<\/a>&nbsp;when they want to defecate, so you should take care when this condition starts to develop.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is recommended that you change the cat litter tray regularly in order to prevent the problem from happening. When you notice that your cat isn&#8217;t using the litter box, try to make him use it for a short while then move on.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another good way to tell if your cat is suffering from dementia is to see if he\/she starts to avoid people or objects around him.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This may also include avoiding other cats, and also objects like books, toys and newspapers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The symptoms of dementia can sometimes be hard to identify because cats tend to have an easygoing disposition and they can also act like they don&#8217;t care about things.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But if your cat does start to exhibit some of these symptoms, then you may want to talk to your vet to determine whether or not your cat might be suffering from dementia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The problem with trying to figure out if your cat is suffering from dementia if he\/she starts to refuse to use his\/her cat&#8217;s litter box is that it can be hard to tell what is going on. It&#8217;s much easier to diagnose dementia in older people because they are more likely to lose their memory.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But cats don&#8217;t have the same problem as older humans do. Cats can be really smart animals and can learn to associate certain things with certain objects and locations, and it&#8217;s difficult to determine what is causing the problem. If you suspect that your cat has dementia, it&#8217;s best to get them checked out by your vet because it could potentially save their lives!<br>\ufeff\ufeff<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How To Handle Cat Dementia If Cat Seems To Be Meandering At Night<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Cat dementia if cat&#8217;s howling or unusual loud meowing at night is one of the most difficult aspects of a cat. This may come in the form of constant meowing at night, or a strange cat sound that seems to come out of nowhere. There are many reasons for cats to start behaving strangely and it is important to figure out what exactly is causing this and how to stop it from happening again.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">One of the most common causes of dementia is trauma. If you have recently changed your home to a new house or apartment and suddenly your cat seems to be exhibiting the same strange behavior, there are a few things that you can do to help the situation.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>First, try to get a hold of your cat and take him to his old home, which will give you a chance to see whether he has been traumatized. If your cat&#8217;s behavior is consistent with a traumatic incident, it is a good idea to move him back to his old home as soon as possible, as the longer you leave your cat there the more likely it is that he will begin to remember the incident and start to associate it with certain places.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, if your cat is behaving abnormally or suddenly meowing at night it is important to make sure that he has no type of injury. Many times cats who suffer from some type of injury will start to howl at night, because they have no memory of why they are doing this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In most cases, this is an indication that you cat is beginning to display a strange behavior. After you determine this, you should try to find out what the cause is.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is where you need to be very careful, and only use your instinct when trying to figure out what is causing this strange behavior.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Often cats that show this behavior will only change when they are introduced to a new environment, so if you have a new cat in the house, do not allow your cat to roam around until you know for sure that the new cat is free of any kind of strange behaviors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br><br>How Can I Treat Cat Dementia Due To Old Age?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/7nY9CVP.jpg\" alt=\"cat dementia cannot be treated due to old age\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Cat dementia cannot be treated as it is a disorder of old age. There is no cure for this kind of dementia and it is therefore important to take care of your pet in the best possible manner so that they can get well. Since this condition is a disorder of old age, it can affect a cat if they are not properly taken care of. If you are able to pay the necessary cost, then you should take your cat to the vet to have it checked out and the correct medication prescribed so that you can help it improve its mental condition. Cats who are suffering from this condition will also need to undergo regular check ups and visits to their vet, since they will need to be checked over every few months, for proper treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dementia cannot be treated due to old age, because there are many factors that can cause it, like poor nutrition, depression and stress, all of which can lead to it.&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are looking to take good care of your cat, then you should ensure that they are getting plenty of vitamins and nutrients through the food they eat. You should also ensure that your cat gets enough exercise every day and this will ensure that they get a good mood and feel comfortable. This will also ensure that they do not develop any mental disease such as dementia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Senior cat owners should ensure that they feed their cats at the same time everyday. This way they will get enough vitamins and nutrients and will feel better and develop better mental health. They should also take their cats for walks around the house, so that they get used to being outdoors and they will also get regular mental stimulation. Also they should be given lots of water because this will help them feel better and will also help them fight off illnesses and diseases. Caring for your cat with dementia will also require that you give them the correct diet and the right amount of vitamins and nutrients. This will help to keep their immune system strong and to prevent diseases and sicknesses from ever affecting them again.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Giving my 18 year old cat Garfield &quot;elderly care&quot;, so he doesn&#039;t become a &quot;Smelly Cat&quot;\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/kzpwkn_gFP4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br>Tips On Cat Dementia Prevention<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you think that your cat is going to become more elderly, you should pay special attention to some tips on cat dementia prevention.\ufeff\ufeff\ufeff&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cats are generally pretty active creatures; they spend a lot of their time running around the house and going for a walk.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, if you notice any signs of mental or physical decline in your cat, you should make an appointment with your veterinarian for a checkup. Your veterinarian can conduct a comprehensive assessment of your cat&#8217;s health and examine it properly. From there, they can give you a number of tips on cat dementia prevention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/PhhXGMY.jpg\" alt=\"tips on cat dementia prevention\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">One tip on cat dementia prevention is that it&#8217;s important to play with your cat regularly.&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Older cats are much more likely to be couch potatoes and will be less interested in running around and playing.&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>When you play with your cat, make sure that you don&#8217;t get too close to it; this can often result in your cat becoming nervous and uncomfortable around you.&nbsp;<\/li><li>As an alternative, you can simply play with a cardboard box and pretend that you are playing with the real thing.&nbsp;<\/li><li>The idea here is to keep them amused, which will help your cat recover from this condition.&nbsp;<\/li><li>This doesn&#8217;t mean that you have to keep playing with your cat every day; just make sure that you&#8217;re playing with it regularly and not spending too much time with it.<\/li><li>Another tip on cat dementia prevention is to make sure that your cat has a healthy diet.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Cats who eat a well-balanced diet, with lots of protein and low fat and carbohydrate content, are usually much healthier and happier than cats who are eating a high fat, high sugar diet.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Make sure that you do not feed your cat fatty foods because these can lead to obesity, which can result in many different medical problems including heart problems, diabetes and even stroke.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Instead, you should try feeding your cat a good quality commercial cat food that contain a variety of ingredients, as well&nbsp;as other vitamins and minerals.<\/li><\/ul>\n<!--CusAds0-->\n<div style=\"font-size: 0px; height: 0px; line-height: 0px; margin: 0; padding: 0; clear: both;\"><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What Is Cat Dementia? What is Cat Dementia? If you&#8217;ve had a pet or are considering getting one, you know that they are like members of the family. However, with the passing of time and their advanced years, it becomes more likely for them to develop Alzheimer&#8217;s disease. What is Cat Dementia? If you have &#8230; <a title=\"Do Cats Get Dementia?\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/petbrilliant.com\/do-cats-get-dementia\/\" aria-label=\"More on Do Cats Get Dementia?\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3403,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[9,3],"tags":[2278],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/petbrilliant.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2113"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/petbrilliant.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/petbrilliant.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petbrilliant.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petbrilliant.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2113"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/petbrilliant.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2113\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4887,"href":"https:\/\/petbrilliant.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2113\/revisions\/4887"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petbrilliant.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3403"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/petbrilliant.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2113"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petbrilliant.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2113"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petbrilliant.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2113"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}