senile cats how do you care for one?

Question

I have an 11 year old cat who has become senile and has started to attake at night. I have to keep her in my room so that my other cat dose not kill her.

Answer 1

Your cat is kind of young for Feline Cognitive Disorder, but it can happen at her age.

Feline Cognitive Disorder is the exact same disease as Alzheimers in humans; it's the only brain disease that affects both species.

I would recommend a thorough veterinary checkup, since there may be something else wrong, perhaps something with a better prognosis.

If it is FCD, here are some links that might help:

http://www.catsplay.com/thedailycat/2004-01-26/mind_behavior/feline_cognitive/feline_cognitive.html

http://home.ivillage.com/pets/cats/0,,mm2n,00.html

http://fnl.atendesigngroup.com/ONSITE/render.php?currentObjId=3217

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/97809/alzheimers_in_cats_feline_cognitive.html

http://www.mvplabs.com/Dietary%20Supplements/Benefits%20of%20Choline%20Supplementation.pdf

http://www.worldwidehealthcenter.net/articles-277.html

Folic acid, one of the B vitamins, has been shown to slow the development of Alzheimers in humans, and perhaps it could also be helpful in cats. But some things that are OK for humans are toxic to cats, so ask your vet before you start giving kitty folic acid.

Good luck! Kitty is going to need extra care, attention and love from now on.

Here's one more link, with general information about meeting the needs of elderly cats. At age 11, kitty isn't elderly, but if she has FCD then you should probably treat her as if she was elderly...

http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/seniorcat.html

Answer 2

11 is rather young for most cats to become senile. Have you taken her for a check-up to make sure nothing else is going on?

Yes, keeping her separate is a good idea. And as another said, so is keeping a routine so she will have something familiar.

Good luck!

Answer 3

i would ask the vet for help with this one because this is early to be "senile" and because they have medications now that ease alot of the symptoms of senility in dogs and cats. I think keepignt hem apart is a good idea, but also keeping a routine, and making sure your cat has a designated space for sleeping, with his own blankets and litter box will help ease his anxiety.