Dementia

[Chianti]

So much beloved cat, Sam, age about 15-16, has early stage kidney disease, which I'm trying to manage. More worryingly, he also possibly has dementia.
During the day he is typical elderly cat and sleeps most of the time. It's at night time that his behaviour is very strange. He's always preferred being out at
night and used to either rest/ sleep in a wall flower trough under the kitchen window or a cat den on the patio. He's now on the front door step most of the night. I'm in a
bungalow and my bedroom is very close to the front door so I hear him crying and scratching the door. I let him in and feed him and then he wants to go out again.
An hour later the process is repeated and carries on throughout the night to about 3 am. I am very sleep deprived. We've seen the vet who says it's probably dementia. I'm very much in the 'better a day too early' camp and am worried he'll get confused and wander off. Vet prescribed a vitamin based supplement, which had no effect. I'm now trying CBD because I thought it might be anxiety but it doesn't seem to be helping. I know the end is very near but I just wanted to reach out and see if anyone had had something similar and has found something to help.

 

[nagblagger]

Not that i would put an elderly, much loved cat through a lot of investigations, but worsening kidney disease can cause confusion. A simple blood test would show this, however if it is end-stage there are very limited options with the same outcome.
It's always so hard when they are not obviously suffering, but i agree a day early......

 

[AmyMay]

I’d confine him to the house I’m afraid. The last thing you want is him wandering off, never to return. But ultimately I’d probably give him his final day before too long

 

[SEL]

My mum's cat was the same although she was 20 by then. They put her litter tray next to her basket but she would yowl on and off through the night.

I'm sure you'll know when the time is right but I think mum left it too long.

Can you bring yours in for a few nights with food & litter tray close to hand and see if he settles?

 

[Chianti]

My mum's cat was the same although she was 20 by then. They put her litter tray next to her basket but she would yowl on and off through the night.

I'm sure you'll know when the time is right but I think mum left it too long.

Can you bring yours in for a few nights with food & litter tray close to hand and see if he settles?

Thanks but he wouldn't settle indoors. He's used to being out at night and would just sit and yowl in the hall - it's every six seconds - I've counted.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

If he won't stop in but doesn’t want to stop out, there really aren't many options left. What do you think about his quality of life?

 

[Shady]

I'm going to agree with Nagblagger in that the kidneys play a big role in behaviour and cats get very confused as the kidney's ability to function declines and toxins build up. Same as people. Vets can keep saying try this and that ,but at the end of the day , sadly , you are now on limited time, and as I have seen what happens when kidneys shut down, I would let go early rather than later. I'm so sorry. Probably not what you want to hear. Thinking of you both xx

 

[Squeak]

When I was researching night time dementia for a dog, it came up that some people had some success with using a red light at night time - it might not be feasible where he's outside but something like that could be worth a go?

 

[Chianti]

I'm going to agree with Nagblagger in that the kidneys play a big role in behaviour and cats get very confused as the kidney's ability to function declines and toxins build up. Same as people. Vets can keep saying try this and that ,but at the end of the day , sadly , you are now on limited time, and as I have seen what happens when kidneys shut down, I would let go early rather than later. I'm so sorry. Probably not what you want to hear. Thinking of you both xx

If he won't stop in but doesn’t to stop out, there really aren't many options left. What do you think about his quality of life?

That's the thing- during the day I'd say his quality of life is still very good. He eats well. His drinking isn't excessive or overly frequent. He's not peeing all the time. He's still grooming himself. He spends the day in the back garden, sleeping or mooching about or sleeping on the sofa. I look at him and think he looks good for his age. It's just at night. I know his time is near and I won't let him go down hill. I just wanted to post about him to see if anyone said 'Ah, I had that and we........ and it really helped'. With past animals I've felt guilty when I've made the decision to PTS so I always like to be able to say to myself that I tried everything I could and there was no more I could have done to delay the decision. He's such a good cat and has been the best pal to me so he'll be done at home with hopefully as little stress to him as possible.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

My 18 year old cat howls all night long now. She is perfectly fine during the day, eats well, uses her litter tray, never has any accidents and doesn't drink excessively. I’m convinced she just gets confused when it’s pitch black and she can’t see so I’m going to start leaving a low light on for her to see if there’s any difference.

 

[Chippers1]

Just chiming in to say I have the same with my 20 year old cat, fine during the day but yowls a lot at night! I've taken her to the vets (and she also has kidney disease) but I think it's just one of those things that happens as they age unfortunately. In my case I think Molly just wants attention as she stops if you go and wave at her! She's also deaf so I can't shout out to her either.

 

[HollyWoozle]

Our elderly family cat (20+) is another but she improved dramatically after starting meds for high blood pressure and taking some painkillers.

 

[Chianti]

Our elderly family cat (20+) is another but she improved dramatically after starting meds for high blood pressure and taking some painkillers.

Thanks. I did wonder about high blood pressure so will ask the vet. She says there's no point trying to take his blood pressure as he gets so stressed there.

He's definitely eating more now he's on the CBD so I do wonder if he was in a bit of pain.

 

[Fjord]

Nothing to add but sending hugs x

 

[Chianti]

Nothing to add but sending hugs x

Thank you. It's at this point in the pet owning process that I swear never again.

 

[Britestar]

Also consider testing for thyroid.
That can make them quite yowly as well.