Senior Cats Can Get Dementia
By CarolDM
@CarolDM (203452)
Nashville, Tennessee
February 25, 2019 3:49pm CST
Brendel is one of my cats rescued from a shelter on what I call death row. The Dude was rescued a couple of years after her.
I have been noticing slight changes with Brendel lately. She has chronic bronchitis, so she coughs often and does not eat a lot. But she plays with her toys and seems to be feeling ok. However you never really know with cats.
The past few months, off and on I have noticed her just standing still for seconds at a time. She also does this in my lap. Just stands before she sits. Sort of like she zones out for a minute. And last night she was trying to get out of the cat door into the screen room. But it was midnight and the doors were all closed.
Just a little odd behavior I have been noticing. I started researching today and read from a respected website, that older cats can get Dementia. How sad is that. They get their days and nights confused and sometimes do not respond to you. I know some can say that is just normal cay behavior. But there is something off with her it seems. Kind of hard to explain.
I certainly hope Brendel is not getting Dementia. She is only about nine years old. But she is considered a senior cat according to the vet.
I will continue monitoring her habits and if I see anything major changing, I will take her to the vet. I am not ready to even think about losing another cat. I hope she is fine, and just being a cat. But I do know they hide illness very well. I will keep a close eye on her.
Sharing a photo I snapped as she was cat napping in one of her cat trees. She could barely keep her eyes open.
Photo ©CarolDM
Have you heard of Dementia in cats? Ever experienced with your cats?
24 people like this
25 responses
@LowRiderX (22907)
• Serbia
25 Feb 19
I read about it. I hope your cat will be Ok. By the way, Brendel is beautiful cat 
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203452)
• Nashville, Tennessee
25 Feb 19
@LowRiderX Yes I absolutely do care about her. Thank you for your support.
1 person likes this
@LowRiderX (22907)
• Serbia
25 Feb 19
@CarolDM You are welcome!
And do not worry, she will have a long life, you care of her, it's obvious
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (170140)
• United States
26 Feb 19
Not really, but I would do some research on this,,I know with dogs..there are certain foods that help with it..I think Purina Bright mind is one. Honestly, I think something like fish oil might help. I would do a bit of research on this..and or talk to the vet.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (170140)
• United States
26 Feb 19
@CarolDM You probably have to do it all the time for a good effect.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203452)
• Nashville, Tennessee
26 Feb 19
@snowy22315 Problem is she doesn't like it every day.
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@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
25 Feb 19
I think I have heard of it but only by name. I certainly hope that Brendel isn't getting dementia though. If she stopped in the middle of the floor I might think something caught her attention, since she does it in your lap as well... Well I just hope that it's not as bad as dementia.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
26 Feb 19
@CarolDM It does sound like she might be having some sort of mental faculty problems. just keep a watch over it and maybe try to time how long she stares like that, if it increases the vet would want to know.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203452)
• Nashville, Tennessee
26 Feb 19
@ScribbledAdNauseum Yes it is sad to watch.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129493)
• Israel
27 Feb 19
@CarolDM
Now, I am getting nervous and wondering about my Sophie. She cries out for me at times and I tell her to come where I am and she just saw me but wanders around. She is only 4 and the only thing I know about her history is that she was abandoned at 2 days old and never learned manners so she bites and grabs at times.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203452)
• Nashville, Tennessee
27 Feb 19
@Hannihar They just get a little confused because they sleep so much. They get their days and nights mixed up. But that doesn't always mean something is wrong. My two were also rescues so there is a lot I do not know about them. All we can do is love them and take care of them.
1 person likes this
@Nevena83 (65282)
• Serbia
25 Feb 19
Yes, cats can suffer from various diseases like humans. You are right to consider the 9th year as an old cat. Perhaps something is currently in question, maybe she ate something, maybe she does not feel the best, maybe something worse. They really have a developed feeling that they can overhear some things.
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (36469)
• Toccoa, Georgia
26 Feb 19
No, I never knew cats could get Dementia.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (95368)
• Marion, Ohio
25 Feb 19
Hopefully she is just being a cat. I figured they could get it as I have had dogs get it.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (95368)
• Marion, Ohio
26 Feb 19
@CarolDM I had an australian shepherd that did. She never roamed anywhere. I had just missed her one day and my mom called to tell me she was over there walking in circles. She had forgot her way home even being able to see the house. I could see relief in her face when I walked over and said her name.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203452)
• Nashville, Tennessee
26 Feb 19
@wolfgirl569 Oh my that is too sad. We forget they are often like little people.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (40562)
• United States
25 Feb 19
I sure hope Brendel will be okay. We had a cat that lived to be about 24 real years. She was deaf, almost blind and would sleep up in the barn because she couldn't hear anything coming up near her. She was a sweetheart. One time she was under my husband's truck and he didn't know it. When he started the truck, she yowled and ran off to the woods. She came back a couple of days later with half a tail!
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (40562)
• United States
26 Feb 19
@CarolDM Our pets can sure become our babies, can't they?
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203452)
• Nashville, Tennessee
26 Feb 19
@1creekgirl Indeed, they are my babies.
1 person likes this
Thanks
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
25 Feb 19
That is so sad to learn. I hope your cat is just exhibiting normal aged behavior and not dementia. Good for you to keep a close watch and taking care of her well.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203452)
• Nashville, Tennessee
26 Feb 19
@playertwo She will be fine I hope. I will watch her.
@Happy2BeMe (99392)
• Canada
26 Feb 19
She is beautiful I have never heard that. I hope she is okay and doesn't have dementia. My older cat is 12.
1 person likes this
@Allyouneedislove (35)
• Alachua, Florida
26 Mar 19
Hi, Carol. have you checked Brendel to see her hydration level? Very often when cats a re sick for long periods of time, they can get dehydrated, and this often causes the "long stare" syndrome. Lack of the nutrients they need to think (including oxygen carried by the blood) can manifest itself in temporary loss of cognition. If she's dehydrated, an IV may be needed. She also may be having trouble getting enough air due to the respiratory infection. I'd suggest not waiting and taking her to the vet sooner rather than later. :)
@GardenGerty (157615)
• United States
26 Feb 19
Yes, they have been telling me that Princess has dementia for more than three years now. She is sixteen.However it really seemed to start when she got lost for four days after falling off a moving vehicle, before we moved. Other signs can be that they will meow a lot more. On the other hand, Princess likes me more now than she ever has in her entire life. We did notice her sleeping in strange places, very soundly.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130064)
• India
26 Feb 19
They get all the ailments that visit senior humans Our rooster had arthritis.
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@acelawrites (19273)
• Philippines
25 Feb 19
Maybe they are having it too when they are so old. I don't know. I hope Brendel would be fine.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
25 Feb 19
I did not know that about cats.
1 person likes this
@Ronrybs (17840)
• London, England
25 Feb 19
I was taken aback a bit when I read that cats can get dementia. It should be no surprise I guess, as we don't really know what causes it in humans. One thing I did read was that keeping your moggies stimulated and playing with them is good. But, again, as with humans how do we know that can help?
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