Behavior and Cognition of the Senior Cat and Its Interaction with Physical Disease

Sagi Denenberg; Karen L Machin; Gary M Landsberg

doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2023.09.001

Behavior and Cognition of the Senior Cat and Its Interaction with Physical Disease

Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2024 Jan;54(1):153-168. doi: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2023.09.001. Epub 2023 Oct 19.

Authors

Sagi Denenberg¹, Karen L Machin², Gary M Landsberg³

Affiliations

¹ North Toronto Veterinary Behaviour Specialty Clinic, 8705 Yonge Street, Richmond Hill, Ontario L4C 6Z1, Canada. Electronic address: sagidvm@gmail.com.
² Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4, Canada.
³ CanCog Inc, Fergus, Ontario, Canada.

PMID: 37865588
DOI: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2023.09.001

Abstract

In cats, age-related pathologic condition and neurologic degeneration can produce changes in activity, vocalization, appearance, appetite, litter box use, sleep-wake cycle, personality, and cognitive ability. These changes can influence the relationship between owner and pet. Although cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) can cause altered behavior later in life, other medical or behavioral causes may mimic these clinical signs or complicate diagnosis. Management and treatment of CDS can be accomplished through pharmacologic intervention, diet and nutritional supplementation, and environmental enrichment aimed at slowing the progression of the disease.

Keywords: Behavior; Cat; Cognitive dysfunction; Treatment.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Aging
Animals
Behavior, Animal
Cat Diseases* / diagnosis
Cat Diseases* / therapy
Cats
Cognition*