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If you’ve got a senior cat at home that’s begun behaving strangely…at least some of the causes could be sickness, pain, or even cognitive decline. Aka, cat dementia. Here’s to spot the signs before they worsen and keep your cat safe at every step.

Key Takeaways

Cat dementia often turns up as behavioral changes.
Watch out for signs like disorientation, forgetting routines, and peeing outside the litter box. Cats might also vocalize more, especially at night.

Currently, there is no cure for cat dementia.
At the same time, you can help your cat by maintaining a predictable routine and with a few simple tweaks to their physical environment.

A smart cat collar can help you spot early signs of cat dementia.
Your Tractive device monitors your cat’s activity and sleep patterns, which can change significantly with cognitive decline. If there’s a weird change, you’ll get a Health Alert prompting you to get them checked up at the vet.

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Can cats get dementia?

Just like elderly folks are susceptible to Alzheimer’s disease, so too are our feline friends. Meaning, if you’re noticing your buddy making funny sounds, seeming confused or disoriented, staring into space, or even forgetting to use the litter box – it might signal cognitive decline. Senior cats with dementia are also likely to wander away from home, too far from safety. Where, if they get disoriented, they might not be able to find their way back to you.

Cat dementia, also known as feline cognitive dysfunction or more broadly, cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS), impacts over 50% of cats over the age of 15 years1. Any cat can develop dementia – no matter if they’re male or female, indoor or outdoor, and of every breed.

However, it’s important to diagnose cat dementia correctly, as the symptoms could actually be masking another illness in your cat.

What is cat dementia?

Cat dementia, also known as feline cognitive dysfunction, is a brain disorder typically associated with old age in cats. It occurs when deterioration of the brain tissue, caused by aging and other factors, causes changes in the cat’s behavior, memory, and awareness.

What causes dementia in cats?

Cognitive dysfunction in cats occurs as a result of age-related decline, especially with a buildup of a protein called beta amyloid. As beta amyloid accumulates, it can cause damage to your cat’s brain. With time, it leads to a slow down of blood flow to their brains – which causes their neurons to die.

When your cat’s neurons start to break down, it affects their thoughts and behavior – especially their memory. Since your cat’s sleep cycles are controlled by their brain, cat dementia can affect them – leading your cat to be awake at times outside of their usual sleeping hours. (Like at night.)

💡Tracking your cat’s sleep patterns with a smart cat collar can help you spot a weird change early – and potentially catch on to any cognitive decline before it has a chance to worsen.

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What are some signs of cat dementia?

Since cat dementia affects memory, thought, and sleep cycles, your buddy might:

  • Forget their normal routine – including mealtimes
  • Not drink water unless it’s placed in front of them
  • Become disoriented, confused, and afraid more easily,
  • Pee outside their litter box
  • Sleep more than usual – and at different times than usual
  • Vocalize more frequently, especially at night
  • Stare off into space – often at walls or corners
  • Groom themselves less
  • No longer be interested in playtime
  • Wander off outside their usual territory

Cat dementia might also lead to behavioral changes – your buddy might end up clingier or needier than usual, for example. On the other hand, some cats with CDS might grow more aloof or even reactive as a result, seeming more irritable or even aggressive.2

At what age do cats get dementia?

For most cats that develop feline dementia, signs and symptoms often start to show between the ages of 10 to 15 years3. The disease is likely to progress faster as the cat gets older, and is very common in cats over 15 years.

What to do if you notice any of these signs in your cat

The brain damage and cognitive dysfunction known as cat dementia causes changes in your cat’s behavior, memory and awareness levels. So if you’re noticing any of these signs, it’s a good idea to jot them down – so you can discuss them with your vet.

“Pay attention to any patterns tied to your cat’s abnormal behavior.

It may be helpful to video these episodes to share with your vet.”

– PetMD, Dementia in Cats3

How your vet might diagnose cat dementia

Diagnosing cat dementia can be tricky. After all, its symptoms do overlap with a whole range of other illnesses cats are vulnerable to. Including:

  • Hyperthyroidism, which can cause your cat to grow more active, irritable, and vocalize at night
  • Hypertension, or high blood pressure (which has similar symptoms as above)
  • Sensory decline, such as deafness or blindness – while their cognitive senses might still be intact
  • Arthritis, or chronic pain – which might make your cat grow less active over time or struggle to groom themselves more
  • Brain tumors, or other neurological issues
  • Kidney disease, which can cause your cat to pee outside their litter box

Your vet might begin with a physical exam to rule out any other causes for a decline in your cat’s health. They might also administer:

  • A blood test (to rule out kidney disease)
  • Urinalysis (to check for any UTIs)
  • Imaging techniques, including X-rays
  • Pain medication, in case arthritis is a contributing factor

Is there a cure for cat dementia?

Unfortunately, since the brain tissue degeneration which is associated with feline cognitive dysfunction (cat dementia) is irreversible, there is currently no cure for cat dementia3. So once the brain tissue is damaged, it is not possible to repair it given current medicine and technology.

“Even though there is no cure for dementia in cats, it’s important to get a diagnosis to help keep your cat comfortable and care for them the best that you can.”

– WebMD, What to Know About Dementia in Cats4

Besides, even if you do notice these signs, there’s still hope. You can still build your grand-cat a loving, safe, enriching home environment that adapts to their dementia – and helps them live a longer, happier, set of golden years by your side.

How to care for a cat with dementia

Now while you can’t 100% prevent cat dementia, there’s a lot you can do to delay its onset. But even if your cat is already showing these signs, here are some steps you can take to adapt to their needs.

Double down on your cat’s routine

A predictable routine can help your aging cat feel more secure and less confused or disoriented. Which might look like:

  • Regular feeding and playtime – or at least a ton of quality time with you. A diet high in Vitamin E and antioxidants can help keep them healthy.
  • Help your cat remember meal times by placing food and water bowls around your home and following a steady routine.
  • Avoid making big changes in their environment, like moving furniture or renovations. (If you do need to move houses or make these kinds of changes, consider dropping your cat over at a friend’s or a loved one’s – ideally, someone your cat is familiar with.)
  • Try and avoid bringing any new cats or other animals home. (At least for now.)

Help your grand-cat get around physically

Cat dementia can mean your grand-cat isn’t the active kitten they once were. They might eat less, rest more, and generally have a hard time getting around like they used to. (Like that favorite spot on the windowsill.) So you could help them get around by:

  • Installing ramps or steps for them to reach their favorite spots.
  • Vertical posts and perches can help them get a little vantage point from where they can survey their surroundings – while feeling safe.

Help your grand-cat stay mentally active

In many cases, skipping out on your cat’s training and playtime can actually speed up both physical AND cognitive decline. So keep your buddy busy with:

  • Interactive toys, like food puzzles or treat balls that make your cat have to “work” for their food – keeping them mentally active.
  • Regular training, which – yes – cats are also 100% capable of, just like dogs! Try a fun, practical training method like clicker training, which is built on positive reinforcement.
  • Simple games around your house, like hide and seek or the cups game. (Hide a treat under a cup, shuffle it around with some others, and let your cat sniff it out and find it!)
A cat sleeping in a wicker basket

Set up a quiet, safe sleeping (and peeing) spot

Your cat’s sleeping and peeing spots are key to their privacy – so it’s important they get a little peace and quiet in these areas. For your cat’s sleeping spot:

  • A quiet, safe spot – not too far from you – is ideal.
  • Vets recommend installing an automatic feeding bowl nearby, which can dispense small treats at odd hours when your cat is awake. (Like nighttime.)
  • A nightlight or soft cat-specific music can help your buddy relax and sleep better.
  • Get in touch with your vet if your cat could benefit from melatonin supplements. (But only under veterinary guidance!)

For your cat’s peeing spot:

  • Put a litter box on each floor of your home – a little away from the other rooms.
  • Ensure the walls of your litter box aren’t too high. (Your cat might have trouble jumping or reaching over.) A litter box with a low entry point can prevent your buddy from soiling themselves around your house.

“Your cat may benefit from being in a smaller space with access to food, water, and a litter box to minimize their chances of getting disoriented and lost, especially at night.”

– PetMD, Dementia in Cats

Where a smart cat collar with Health Monitoring can help

It’s tough to spot the subtle changes that come with cat dementia. That’s where technology can lend a hand and help us better understand your cat’s health. A smart cat collar with Health Monitoring, like Tractive, can help you spot potential health issues early and keep your cat safe. Now with just a glance at your phone, you can:

Catch on the signs of cat dementia early

With your tracker’s built-in Sleep Tracking, you can now monitor your cat’s sleep quality – and spot a change in their sleep cycles early. Cats with cognitive decline often have their sleep cycles thrown out of whack. They might sleep more during the day and be super restless at night. Since the Tractive collar tracks your cat’s sleep 24/7, it helps you notice a shift in their sleep patterns much faster than you would just by watching them.

Next, the Health Alerts feature automatically lets you know if there’s a big, long-term change in your cat’s sleep or activity. Think of it as an early warning system that tells you it might be time to chat with your vet. Having this kind of solid data is super helpful for your vet, giving them objective info they might not get otherwise.

Keep your cat safe no matter where they wander

Disorientation is a common symptom of cat dementia, and it can cause a senior cat to get lost, even in their own neighborhood. The Tractive smart cat collar has real-time GPS tracking so you can see exactly where your cat is at any moment.

From the mobile app, you can also set up Virtual Fences – safe zones around your home and yard. If your cat wanders out of that area, you’ll get an immediate alert on your phone. This gives you peace of mind, knowing you’ll find out right away if your cat gets confused and wanders off, so you can go bring them back home safely.

With these tips, you can take good care of your feline friend with cat dementia. Show them all the love they deserve, to make this time in their life a little less difficult. Your love goes a long way when it comes to caring for your grand-cat!

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And if you’ve liked this post, share it with a friend or a loved one – and let’s help build a safer, kinder world for our furry friends together.

Your furry friend’s health and wellbeing means as much as to us as it does to you. So we’ve made it a priority to only share medically-relevant content on our blog.

This post was checked, double-checked, and medically verified by Georgia-based vet, Dr. Dwight Alleyne.

Dr. Dwight Alleyne, DVM

Originally from Long Island, New York, Dr. Alleyne began his career at a no-kill animal shelter before becoming a licensed veterinary technician. He graduated from Cornell University Veterinary College in 2006 and completed an internship at Purdue University. Now practicing in Georgia, Dr. Alleyne specializes in soft tissue surgery and ultrasounds. He also writes pet health articles on his website, “The Animal Doctor Blog” (www.anmldrblog.com).