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Thanks to advances in nutrition and veterinary care, our pets are sharing their lives with us longer than ever. These days, it's not uncommon for cats to live well into their twenties. As our cats age, they face issues that affect not only their health but also their behavior. While medical conditions can cause these behavioral changes, sometimes they're simply due to the diminishing mental abilities associated with aging and its effect on the feline brain. Similar to Alzheimer's disease in humans, veterinarians classify this problem in cats as cognitive dysfunction syndrome, or CDS.
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“Behaviorally, the most common problem that owners complain about is meowing at night,” says veterinary behaviorist Katherine Houpt, director of the Animal Behavior Clinic at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine in Ithaca, NY.
This increase in vocalization exhibits itself in elderly cats that seem to be confused about where they are. The meowing often is very loud and can last all night, much to the dismay of the sleepless owner. Playing quiet music or keeping your cat in a separate room overnight can help.
Other signs of disorientation include pacing or circling, staring into space or at walls or getting stuck in corners. These cats also can appear to get lost in their own home or wander around as if in unfamiliar territory.
Some elderly cats start to behave differently toward family members and other pets. They might lose interest in interacting, becoming less responsive or act as if they don't know you.
Other cats take the opposite attitude and become very clingy. These cats want to be near – or on – their owners all the time and don't want to let them out of their sight.
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| Aging cats can experience changes in the sleep/wake cycles. Some might exhibit a decrease in playfulness and an increase in sleep, while others stay awake all night when they previously did not. These changes can be caused by medical conditions, such as hypertension and chronic pain, or might simply be due to CDS and the degeneration of cells in the aging feline brain.
Perfectly litter-trained cats sometimes forget their bathroom manners as they age. While CDC can be the cause of inappropriate elimination it also just might be difficult or painful for your cat to climb in and out of the litter box because of arthritis or degenerative joint disease. Another common problem is defecating outside the litter box. “We don't really know why that is because the same cat will jump into the box to urinate,” Houpt says.
Giving your cat a shallow litter pan or even a litter tray helps resolve this problem.
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Be attentive to changes in your aging cat's appetite. It might become uninterested in foods that used to be favorites. Stick to a strict meal schedule, and try feeding more aromatic canned food, which also provides additional liquid in your cat's diet.
“Older cats do not drink enough water,” points out veterinarian Johnny Hoskins, author of “Geriatrics and Gerontology of the Dog and Cat.”
According to Hoskins, this is a common problem in elderly animals, and the resulting dehydration can affect how the brain functions. “The most important medicine for management of geriatric cats and dogs is water,” Hoskins adds.
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| If your cat exhibits any of these behaviors make an appointment with your veterinarian for a complete checkup. Quite often, an underlying medical problem is the cause of the elderly cat's odd behavior. Some of these problems could be diabetes, hyperthyroidism, high blood pressure, or even a urinary tract infection. It is important to have senior blood work and senior xrays done to evaluate your senior cat for any of these potential medical problems. If the veterinarian gives your cat a clean bill of health then CDS might be to blame.
Be understanding and supportive if your cat meows all night or misses the litterbox. Adapt your home to make your aging cat's life a little easier, and remember that your cat is doing the best it can.
“Be sympathetic and seek veterinary advice if there is a problem that's interfering with the cat-human bond,”Houpt says. With some tender loving care, you can help your senior cat spend a few more years with you,while you both enjoy some quality time with each other.
Call today to schedule your senior cat's exam with one of our excellent veterinarians 732-2210
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10 Ways to Make Your Aging Cat
More Comfortable
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Add More Bathrooms: Extra litterboxes can help a forgetful elderly cat remember where the toilet is.
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Go for Easy Access: Provide litterboxes with at least one low side. These will be easier for an older cat with achy joints to get in and out of.
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Ramp it Up: Add ramps or low stairs to help your cat get to its favorite sleeping spot on a sofa or bed.
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Serve Regular Meals: Structure and routine, especially related to mealtimes, will help sustain an elderly cat's mental function.
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Make Dinner Desirable: A little hot water added to canned food will enhance the aroma and make it more appealing to a cat whose sense of smell might be diminishing. Provide plenty of fresh drinking water, too.
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Shrink Living Spaces: Close off parts of the house where your cat could get lost or disoriented, and restrict the cat to a few familiar rooms.
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Keep Stairs Off-Limits: Arthritic joints, loss of vision and cognitive dysfunction can make stairs difficult for your older cat to navigate. Eliminate access to stairs and limit living spaces to one floor.
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Don't Change a Thing: Avoid major changes to your household. A kitten, puppy or even a new adult pet will be stressful to your elderly cat.
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Increase Interaction: Gentle playtime – even just stretching a paw to bat a toy mouse or feather – will stimulate your aging cat's brain and muscles.
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Give Lots of Love: Many cats become more affectionate as they get older. Use this time to strengthen the bond between you and your senior feline.
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Helen Jablonski, Cat Fancy May 2008
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