Alzheimer's-like Disease in Cats

It seems that as cats get older they may suffer from neurological problems similar to those seen in older people. A study at the University of Edinburgh in collaboration with others has found that older cats showing signs of senility have similar changes in their brains to those found in humans with Alzheimer's disease.

Cats are living longer and longer thanks to the care provided by their owners and the modern veterinary techniques available to help them in their later years. This is good news, but it does mean that as cats get older we may see more age-related problems developing which we need to be aware of.

Unfortunately cats (and dogs) do occasionally become senile as they age. Signs of senility are usually first noticed by the owner because the pet's behaviour changes considerably. Changes can include the pet seeming to be "confused" in familiar surroundings, excessive vocalisation, seeking the attention and closeness of their owner and problems with house-soiling in a previously house-trained pet.

It is unfortunately often the problem of house-soiling which causes the most distress to owners and some people find that they are simply unable to cope. Medication may be given to try to improve cognitive function in affected animals (although currently these drugs are licensed only for dogs). Such medication often does help and it is often a good idea to try it before the painful decision of euthanasia is made in cases where the problem is severe enough to warrant it. Now that a similar problem has been found in cats maybe new drugs will become available to treat this condition in our feline friends.