Who likes to age? Nobody: one becomes slower, more fragile and even cognitive processes risk deteriorating due to different pathologies, leading to that condition generically known as “senile dementia”. A risk to which we do not go only to meet us: even our pets can suffer from it, and it is often not easy to understand what is happening. And since it is a condition for which there is no (still) a cure, it is important to know what to do to prevent it, identify it and mitigate it. Take the example of the cat: it can live up to 20 years, and after 15 there are excellent probability that they begin to show signs of dementia. Here is a small guide to recognize if a cat suffers from dementia, drawn up by two veterinarians of the University of Bristol.
The effects on behavior … the most evident signals, and therefore easier to identify, that a cat is starting to suffer from dementia are behavioral. The most classic of all is the use of the voice: a cat with cognitive problems tends to meow more frequently, and often in situations in which before it did not react. The most widespread example are the desperate night miles. To which changes can be associated in the relationship with humans: a cat suffering from dementia could become much more “mussel” and look for interactions more often with his companions of the house, or on the contrary it could become shy, nervous and avoidance.
A change in sleep rhythms. Another classic behavior that is a warning light are the changes in sleep rhythms: a cat suffering from cognitive decline tends to sleep less at night and on the contrary to rest for a long time during the day. If you have ever had an elderly cat, then, you will know that with age the cases of dejections deposited in the wrong place (i.e. outside the cassette) increase: it is worth noting that this is a symptom associated with a wide range of pathologies, not only dementia.
Piuser or more disoriented? That’s right: did you expect that we talked about anything else? But no: the best way to find out if your cat suffers from dementia (by the way: after 15 years it is a condition that affects 50% of felines) is always looking at its behavior. A cat with cognitive problems may appear disoriented, wandering without a destination or often fix the wall for no apparent reason.
And consequently he can change his levels of activity: some cats aging play and explore more, others less, what matters is to recognize a change.
It has become anxious. Two last clues to identify cognitive problems in your cat: first of all anxiety, perhaps manifested in situations in which the animal previously was at ease previously. If you see that your cat hides more often than usual, it could be a beginning of dementia. The same goes if you notice that the animal struggles to carry out activities that were easy before (even trivial things like finding their own bowl of food), or if it cannot learn new ones. In short: the signals are many and easily identifiable, if you know your cat.
