Just like with owners, physical and mental health changes over the course of a cat’s life. In senior cats, this manifests itself in poor eyesight and hearing, high blood pressure, and forgetfulness. It is therefore not uncommon for cats to be diagnosed with dementia. In the following, interested parties can find out how pet owners deal with it and what care the animal needs in such a condition.
Dementia in Cats
- Over time, the body and brain age, which changes learning behavior, memory, and attention.
- There are certain signs that can be used to identify dementia in cats.
- Indoor cats from the age of 15 often develop various behavioral disorders that indicate dementia.
- In veterinary medicine, it is more of cognitive dysfunction than animal dementia or forgetfulness.
Dementia in cats: when the poor memory increases with age
Experts do not speak of dementia in cats. In veterinary jargon, the disease is called cognitive dysfunction. The course of the disease and symptoms are similar to memory loss in humans. When a cat forgets that it has eaten or appears disoriented, the behavior is very similar to the signs of human dementia.
Pets over 15 years of age are most commonly affected. It is therefore not uncommon for an old cat to have dementia. However, an exact diagnosis by the veterinarian is difficult. On the one hand, this has to do with the fact that the disease has not yet been fully researched in animals in general. On the other hand, it is not so easy for the four-legged roommate to communicate accordingly. Therefore, cats and hangovers with dementia are more likely to notice their changed behavior.
Dementia in Cats: Symptoms that Identify the Disease
The following signs help to identify dementia in cats:
- When cats scream, both during the day and at night, it can be a side effect. It is not possible to stop the cats from screaming.
- If the cat is disoriented and does not know where to go, this is a clear sign of confusion.
- If she can no longer find her bowl or the litter box, this also indicates cognitive dysfunction.
- Often demented animals can no longer make it to the toilet in time because defecating or urinating is painful. Uncleanliness is therefore a common symptom.
- Irregular sleeping and difficult awakening phases in which the animal cannot relate to reality are typical of dementia in cats.
- Some cats get downright depression and lose their courage to face life.
- Severely decreased activity is also an indication that something is wrong.
- Playing and cuddling are often replaced by restless wandering.
In households with several cats, there can be difficulties with one another. This is due to the changed behavior of the demented animals. They become more irritable, sometimes more anxious. They react very differently to their surroundings. This can be expressed in aggression, which in the worst case can be directed against the pet owner. To find out whether these signs are really cognitive dysfunction, a visit to the vet is necessary. Some of the symptoms listed above can also be characteristics of another disease.
Which therapy is advisable against dementia in cats?
If you want to have dementia treated in cats, you must first visit the veterinarian. It is important to describe the experienced symptoms in detail. This is the only way to rule out other diseases. During a thorough check-up, the doctor examines the values of the thyroid gland as well as the kidney and liver. It is important that you react quickly to any of the above symptoms. The faster the mistress or master acts, the better the four-legged friend can be helped.
Treatment options with medication
If the veterinarian determines senile dementia, many changes come to the animal and the owner. Food changes, brain exercises, and medication both turn life a little upside down after diagnosis. The medication that will help if a cat has dementia should be discussed with the veterinarian. As a rule, the veterinarian recommends specific drug treatments and at the same time a new feeding plan with fortified food. In this way it is possible to improve the quality of life of the sick animal despite cognitive dysfunction.
Note: It is important to remember, however, that the drugs do not cure dementia in cats. They just slow down the course of the disease.
Alternative therapeutic measures
Homeopathic products help with dementia in cats. For example, some dietary supplements are able to protect brain cells. That doesn’t cure forgetfulness. It does, however, help the disease to progress less quickly. Incidentally, the same applies to special memory training. You should first try out what the velvet paw is getting into and what gives it a pleasure. It is then possible to vary the game. This also trains the brain additionally.
The last resort so as not to let the animal suffer
Unfortunately, the fact is that dementia is not treatable in house cats. The disease is not curable in either human or animal seniors. While it is possible to slow down the process and extend life, it is not permanent. It is never easy for pet owners to identify the right moment to say goodbye. However, it is really advisable to relieve the animal from severe pain. Euthanasia is therefore not uncommon in cats with very advanced dementia.
Stay calm and show a lot of understanding
The best possible care for a house tiger suffering from dementia could be as follows:
- It is very important that pet owners give the sick velvet paw a great deal of understanding.
- A confused and forgetful pet should also be looked after with a lot of security and security.
- Leave your four-legged friend in their familiar surroundings and do not put them under any stress.
- Anyone who wants to stimulate brain activity at an early stage can try new things with the animal. New toys that make you think can help.
- In addition, a fixed daily structure can help the cat to feel more comfortable again.
- What helps cats with dementia are also small things that make things easier. The high entry into the litter box can be improved with lower models. The same applies to sleeping places, which should score with good accessibility.
- A balanced diet becomes very important in the course of this disease. If the old cat stops eating altogether, you can try to lure it with special treats.
