by Vonda J. Sines

Created on: September 18, 2010

Even if your cat is definitely at senior – at least 12 years old – the first signs of senility in your pet can be alarming.  While the signs of cognitive problems among elderly humans are overtly associated with memory, in elderly cats, they’re often linked to other behavioral changes.

According to CatHealth.com, although owners tend to view aging in cats as a disease, it’s more helpful to think of it as just a natural progression.  What owners commonly refer to as senility in their senior cats is what vets term cognitive dysfunction. 

Initial signs of senility in cats

If you have a senior cat, you probably first noticed that he or she has lost the urge – and perhaps the ability – to frolic like a kitten or young cat.  This in itself is a normal part of the aging process, PetPlace.com reports.

However, feline cognitive dysfunction is much more.  It’s a pathological condition accompanied by many behaviors that might seem to you really abnormal for your cat.   In making a diagnosis, your vet will rely on a cluster of symptoms rather than a single sign of odd behavior to suggest that your cat might be suffering from this condition.

Overt signals of senility

Owners often witness their pet’s loss of control over bladder or bowels.  In addition to observing less activity or playfulness overall, you will probably note longer time spent sleeping or resting if your cat is developing senility.

Many cats facing cognitive dysfunction experience a loss of coordination.  Quite a few become significantly more irritable in their dispositions and exhibit behavior that’s downright aggressive. 

Excessive crying, which vets refer to as hypervocalization, is common, as is separation distress at night.  Owners often overlook changes in their cats’ normal behavioral patterns because they don’t seem directly connected to senility.  Among the most common are decreased or absence of grooming, loss of appetite and altered sounds. 

Cats suffering from senility are often disoriented and wander.  If your elderly cat interacts less these days with other cats or human family members, this is also a sign of feline senility.

Home care

Since vets diagnose senility in cats by ruling out other conditions, it’s important that you observe your pet closely at home for signs of this and other medical issues linked to aging cats.  In general, cats at least 12 years old need increased monitoring by vets compared to what was standard when they were younger.  They should see a vet at least twice a year for routine senior health visits.

An important part of home care is documenting changes in your senior cat’s behavior.  For many individuals, noting the behavior observed and the time of day on a calendar brought with the cat to the vet is easiest.  Others automate the process by tracking on their computers or using cell phone applications.

Caring at home for a cat with senility can be challenging but usually requires no special medical skills.  Since your goal is achieving the most quality time with your cat, often the most important thing you can do is exercise maximum patience and keep the cat in familiar surroundings.  This is not the time to go on a three-week vacation and board the cat at a new kennel.  It’s also essential to come to terms with the fact that while you’re doing the most you can for your pet, you will be unable to halt the aging process.

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