Download Senility in older cats. - Elands Veterinary Clinic

these antioxidants lived significantly longer and were
healthier. However beware: there are many pet
supplements on sale nowadays but many have no
evidence to support the claims they make on the
packaging. Some can even be harmful or contain poor
quality ingredients. We would be happy to advise you on
what diets/supplements are recommended
2. Environmental enrichment
Stimulating the mind can be done in a number of ways
such as providing company, interaction, food hunting
games and play
- because we care
3. Reducing anxiety
Senility
in
older cats.
Once a cat shows significant signs of CDS, they cope
poorly with changes in their environment and day-to-day
life, so consistency is key. Changes that need to be
made should be done slowly, with much reassurance.
Very elderly cats with advanced CDS may actually find
comfort in having their area of access restricted, for
example, to a small, quiet, comfortable ‘safe’ room
where they have easy access to everything they need
and are not disturbed.
The synthetic pheromone Feliway and anti-anxiety
supplement Zylkene can both help cats to cope with
daily life and CDS – please feel free to discuss these
with us.
As you can see there is a lot that can be done for
elderly cats nowadays and it is so rewarding to be able
to provide them with a better quality of life. At Elands,
we strive to keep you informed so that you may choose
the best care for your feline companion.
St John's Church, London Road,
Dunton Green, Sevenoaks, Kent.
TN13 2TE
email: [email protected]
Tel: (01732) 452333
Fax: (01732) 741614
Branch: 1 High Street, Kemsing,
Sevenoaks, Kent. TN15 6NB
Tel: (01732) 761650
http://www.elandsvet.co.uk
Consultations by appointment
open: 8.30am to 6.30pm Mon-Fri
8.30am to 1.00pm Sat
Emergencies 24hrs phone: (01732) 452333
Just off junction 5 of the M25
Elands Veterinary Clinic.
St John's Church, London Road, Dunton Green, Sevenoaks, Kent. TN13 2TE (01732) 452333
Senility in Older Cats
* Changes in activity: e.g. aimless wandering, pacing,
increased sleeping
Is your cat is unwell, senile or just getting old?
* Inappropriate vocalisation: often loud crying at night
The strange things that cats do when they get old are
often not ‘just old age’. It is now well known that dogs,
like humans, suffer from changes to the brain as they
age. There is evidence to show that lifestyle
adjustments and medications can slow down these
changes and improve quality of life. However, not
everybody knows that cats show similar age-related
brain changes and that there are ways we can help
them cope with this ageing process and even slow it
down.
* Altered response to food: often decreased (sometimes
increased) interest in food
‘Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome’ (CDS) is the term
used to describe the changes that occur in a cat’s brain
as it ages, which are similar to those seen in
Alzheimer’s disease. Feline specialists are currently
researching this area of veterinary medicine, so it is one
in which we are likely to see further advances in the
near future – great news for cat welfare!
As many as 28% of cats aged 11-14 years and over
50% of cats over 15 years will develop an age-related
behavioural problem, so being able to address these
problems can have a significant positive impact on their
well being.
The most common changes are:
* Disorientation: either spatial (space) or temporal
(time) e.g. forgetting where the litter box is or when the
last meal was
* Altered social interaction with the family or other cats:
e.g. seeking more attention or increased aggression/
irritability
* Changes in sleeping patterns
* Inappropriate defecation/urination and house soiling
* Decreased grooming
Does my cat have Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome
(CDS)?
There are other medical conditions that can mimic CDS,
or be present simultaneously, and these may need
treatment. It is important that they are investigated,
where necessary, so that the correct treatment is given
and frustrating failures are avoided. These medical
conditions include:
* Arthritis: This should never be ignored, as it causes
constant discomfort and restricts mobility more than a
cat will let on – cats are notoriously subtle in their signs
of arthritis (see leaflet ‘Arthritis in Cats’)
* High blood pressure: (this may be associated with
kidney disease, hyperthyroidism or diabetes). This is
often not accompanied by any symptoms, so blood
pressure measurement is often indicated. If left
untreated, it can cause sudden blindness or brain
damage and puts extra strain on the heart
* Chronic kidney disease: A very common feline
problem which is present in 30% of cats over 10 years
of age. Kidney disease can respond well to management
and some cats can live years after diagnosis with a good
quality of life
* Urinary tract infections: As in humans, some bacterial
urine infections can produce toxins that affect behaviour
and mimic dementia – this is one of the first things a
human doctor will check in an elderly patient showing
any change in behaviour. Cats are no different!
* Over-active thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism): This can
cause anxiety, vocalisation, weight loss, irritability and
altered behaviour
* Pain or discomfort of any origin: e.g. arthritis or dental
disease
* Reduced vision or hearing
* Various other disorders: gastrointestinal and liver
disease, brain disease, infections
During a consultation, pet owners are often asked
questions about appetite, drinking, toileting, behaviour
and mobility. This information, together with a complete
examination, will help us to determine whether an
underlying medical condition may be present. It may be
appropriate to perform blood tests and/or urine tests and
to measure blood pressure (which can often be done
while you wait). Sometimes further tests may be
required. We are always happy to discuss these with
you and to provide estimates.
What can be done if my cat has CDS?
Because we are only starting to understand CDS in
cats, there have been few studies into exactly what
causes it and how it can be treated. Some things,
however, do help:
1. Diets rich in ‘anti-oxidants’
Human research shows that those of us who eat plenty
of anti-oxidants (such as those found in fruit and
vegetables) have better brain function. The same seems
to be true of dogs and cats. There are a number of
different anti-oxidants, including vitamins E and C and
omega-3 fish oils, which are beneficial in the treatment
of dementia. Obviously we can’t expect our cats to eat
their 5-a-day fruit and vegetables and excessive antioxidants can be dangerous. Certain diets now include
these anti-oxidants at appropriate and safe levels or
suitable supplements are available. A study of 90 cats
over 5 years showed that those on a diet that contained