How common is dementia in cats?

Studies suggest that cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) affects around 28% of cats aged 11–14, rising to over 50% of cats aged 15 and older. Despite this prevalence, it is significantly underdiagnosed — many owners and even some veterinarians attribute the signs to normal ageing. The prevalence data is summarised in a review by Gunn-Moore et al. in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (2018) .

What are the early signs of feline cognitive dysfunction?

Early signs are subtle: slightly increased vocalisation (especially at night), occasional disorientation in familiar spaces, and mild changes in sleep-wake cycle. As the condition progresses, signs include repetitive behaviours, forgetting litter tray location, reduced interaction, staring at walls, and apparent confusion. The AAHA Feline Life Stage Guidelines include a cognitive assessment checklist for owners.

Is there a cure for feline dementia?

No cure exists, but management can slow progression and significantly improve quality of life. Options include dietary supplementation (omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants), environmental enrichment to maintain cognitive stimulation, and — in some cases — prescription medication. Selegiline is licensed for cognitive dysfunction in dogs and has been used off-label in cats. Your vet can advise on the best approach. See the International Cat Care guidance on older cats .

Should I wake my cat when it is vocalising at night?

Responding calmly is appropriate — do not ignore a distressed cat. But loud reassurance or dramatic responses can reinforce night vocalisation as an effective attention-getting behaviour. Try switching on a low light (disorientation is often worse in darkness), speaking quietly, and gently guiding the cat to a familiar spot. A night light left on in areas the cat uses can reduce disorientation significantly.

How do I know if it is dementia or another illness causing the symptoms?

Many other conditions in senior cats — hyperthyroidism, hypertension, chronic pain, deafness, vision loss — can cause symptoms that look like cognitive dysfunction. A veterinary assessment including bloodwork and blood pressure measurement is essential before assuming the diagnosis is CDS. This is why the Merck Veterinary Manual treats CDS as a diagnosis of exclusion.

Feline Dementia: What Cat Owners Need to Know

What is feline cognitive dysfunction syndrome?

Feline cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS), sometimes called feline dementia, is a neurodegenerative condition analogous to Alzheimer's disease in humans. Post-mortem studies of affected cats have found brain changes strikingly similar to those seen in human Alzheimer's: amyloid plaques, oxidative damage, and reduced brain weight. The connection is reviewed in Landsberg et al. (2004) in Behavioural Brain Research.

It is not the same as normal ageing. A 16-year-old cat can be mentally sharp; another may show significant cognitive decline by 12. But age is the primary risk factor — prevalence rises sharply after 10 years.

The DISHA framework

Veterinary neurologists use the DISHA acronym to organise the signs of feline CDS:

Disorientation

Getting lost in familiar spaces, staring at walls, apparent confusion about surroundings, not recognising familiar people or places.

Interaction changes

Reduced interest in play, people, or other pets. Or, conversely, increased clinginess and anxiety. Either direction from the cat's baseline is significant.

Sleep-wake cycle changes

Waking at night, disoriented vocalisation between midnight and 4am, sleeping more during the day. Night vocalisation is one of the most distressing signs for owners.

House soiling

Missing the litter tray, forgetting its location, or eliminating in previously clean areas — without a physical cause (UTI, mobility issue).

Activity changes

Repetitive behaviours (pacing, circling), staring blankly, reduced grooming, apparent aimlessness. Increased anxiety or restlessness.

Why it is underdiagnosed

Many owners assume behavioural changes in an old cat are "just part of getting old". This is partly true — some slowing down is normal. But the specific signs above are not inevitable, and treating them as such means cats suffer unnecessarily when management could help.

A 2018 review by Gunn-Moore et al. in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery found that CDS is underreported at veterinary visits because owners do not realise the signs are relevant to raise, and because vets may not ask specifically about cognitive behaviours during routine senior exams.

Keep a video. Cognitive dysfunction signs are often intermittent — your cat may seem normal at the vet. A short phone video of the behaviour at home is one of the most useful things you can bring to an appointment.

What management looks like

There is no reversal, but progression can be slowed and quality of life improved through:

Environmental enrichment — gentle cognitive stimulation (food puzzles, familiar scents, safe exploration) maintains neural activity
Diet — diets enriched with antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and medium-chain triglycerides have shown benefit in some studies
Routine and predictability — stable feeding times, consistent furniture arrangement, minimising changes reduce anxiety and disorientation
Night lighting — a low night light in sleeping and toilet areas reduces nighttime disorientation
Medication — selegiline (licensed for dogs, used off-label in cats) and other therapies may be appropriate for some cats; discuss with your vet

For full guidance on senior cat management, see our senior cat care guide and the International Cat Care older cat resource.

Feline cognitive dysfunction: what cat owners need to know about dementia in older cats

What is feline cognitive dysfunction syndrome?

The DISHA framework

Why it is underdiagnosed

What management looks like

Frequently asked questions