What are signs of cat dementia?

bugmankeith

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I have a 15 year old cat that acts "off" sometimes. I feed her and she eats, then 5 minutes later is waiting for me like she does when she's ready to be fed, the bowl of food is right near her but she doesn't eat? I will then place the food near her and she will gobble it up like I hadn't fed her when I did. She can smell fine as she smells me opening tuna, and she sees fine as she follows the birds at the window. Sometimes at night or during the day she walks around meowing for no reason when nobody is around or awake. Is this like a cat version of dementia?
 

betsygee

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It could be a cat version of dementia.  I had an almost 19 year old cat who got very disoriented towards the end.  He'd stand in the hallway and yowl, as if he'd forgotten where he was, or how to get to the room that had his bed or litter box in it.  It was sad. 

Here's an article about signs of dementia in cats that might help--it mentions the issue you brought up, about forgetting they just ate:  

http://www.knowyourcat.info/health/dementia.htm

Is she having any other health problems--a vet check up is always a good first place to start, especially if she hasn't been to the vet for awhile.
 
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bugmankeith

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It could be a cat version of dementia.  I had an almost 19 year old cat who got very disoriented towards the end.  He'd stand in the hallway and yowl, as if he'd forgotten where he was, or how to get to the room that had his bed or litter box in it.  It was sad. 

Here's an article about signs of dementia in cats that might help--it mentions the issue you brought up, about forgetting they just ate:  

http://www.knowyourcat.info/health/dementia.htm

Is she having any other health problems--a vet check up is always a good first place to start, especially if she hasn't been to the vet for awhile.
Yes she is having other issues like peeing and pooing out of the litterbox constantly. I just had her in for a full exam with my other cat at the vet, she has early kidney issues but I don't know if that explains the poo on the floor as she always was a clean cat and always went in the box. She is grooming herself less too. The vet laughed when I asked about dementia saying she looks fine. I think she really might have the start of it but no vet explains anything so I'm in the dark about symptoms but the link you gave matches up to some things.
 

betsygee

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It could be a cat version of dementia.  I had an almost 19 year old cat who got very disoriented towards the end.  He'd stand in the hallway and yowl, as if he'd forgotten where he was, or how to get to the room that had his bed or litter box in it.  It was sad. 

Here's an article about signs of dementia in cats that might help--it mentions the issue you brought up, about forgetting they just ate:  

http://www.knowyourcat.info/health/dementia.htm

Is she having any other health problems--a vet check up is always a good first place to start, especially if she hasn't been to the vet for awhile.
Yes she is having other issues like peeing and pooing out of the litterbox constantly. I just had her in for a full exam with my other cat at the vet, she has early kidney issues but I don't know if that explains the poo on the floor as she always was a clean cat and always went in the box. She is grooming herself less too. The vet laughed when I asked about dementia saying she looks fine. I think she really might have the start of it but no vet explains anything so I'm in the dark about symptoms but the link you gave matches up to some things.
My kitty was also healthy for his age but started pooing outside the box, too.  Sometime it would be very near the box, so I tried different kinds of boxes, thinking it was arthritis keeping him from getting in there.  But sometimes it would be in the hallway, or just anywhere.  I don't know if he was disoriented and forgetting where the box was or 'forgetting' to go until it was too late.  In the end, I kept him confined to a couple of rooms in the house and just used a lot of puppy pads everywhere.  Poor old guy.  
 
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bugmankeith

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My kitty was also healthy for his age but started pooing outside the box, too.  Sometime it would be very near the box, so I tried different kinds of boxes, thinking it was arthritis keeping him from getting in there.  But sometimes it would be in the hallway, or just anywhere.  I don't know if he was disoriented and forgetting where the box was or 'forgetting' to go until it was too late.  In the end, I kept him confined to a couple of rooms in the house and just used a lot of puppy pads everywhere.  Poor old guy.  
That sounds like my cat, I've had to get used to poop stained rugs and poo smell over everything. I won't confine her I feel bad, so I clean the best I can.
 

betsygee

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My kitty was also healthy for his age but started pooing outside the box, too.  Sometime it would be very near the box, so I tried different kinds of boxes, thinking it was arthritis keeping him from getting in there.  But sometimes it would be in the hallway, or just anywhere.  I don't know if he was disoriented and forgetting where the box was or 'forgetting' to go until it was too late.  In the end, I kept him confined to a couple of rooms in the house and just used a lot of puppy pads everywhere.  Poor old guy.  
That sounds like my cat, I've had to get used to poop stained rugs and poo smell over everything. I won't confine her I feel bad, so I clean the best I can.
I understand.  I ended up throwing away several rugs and I kept joking that I should buy stock in puppy pads.  :-(    But our kitties are worth it.  


I wonder if anti-anxiety type things would help--Feliway diffusers, or calming treats or collars.  I tried using an herbal calming collar on my kitty Travis but he hated wearing collars and after a short time I gave up--it didn't seem worth it at his age.  Your kitty is younger, though, and it might be worth trying some different things.  
 
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