Old cats can develop Alzheimer's disease just like ageing humans, according to a new study.
Credit: istockphoto
SYDNEY: Ageing cats can develop a feline form of Alzheimer's disease, a new international study has revealed.
A key protein that can build up in the nerve cells of a cat's brain and cause mental deterioration has been identified by scientists at universities in the U.S. and Britain.
"We've known for a long time that cats develop dementia, but this study tells us that the cat's neural system is being compromised in a similar fashion to [what] we see in human Alzheimer's sufferers," said co-author Danielle Gunn-Moore, of the University of Edinburgh's Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.
In humans with Alzheimer's disease, this protein creates 'tangles' inside nerve cells which inhibit messages being processed by the brain. The team, reporting in the Journal of Feline Medicine, says that the presence of this protein in cats is proof that they too can develop this type of disease.
Scientists already thought cats were susceptible to dementia because previous research had identified thick, gritty plaques on the outside of elderly cats' brain cells which are similar to those found in humans.
Pinpointing the second key marker, though, was vital to making sure it was really Alzheimer's at work. "The gritty plaques had only hinted that might be the case - now we know," said Gunn-Moore.
"The shorter life-span of a cat, compared to humans, allows researchers to more rapidly assess the effects of diet, high blood pressure, and prescribed drugs on the course of the disease. However, we also need to understand more about our geriatric cats for their own benefit, so we can slow down the degeneration the disease brings and keep them as happy cats for as long as possible."
"As with humans, the life expectancy of cats is increasing and with this longer life runs the greater chance of developing dementia. Recent studies suggest that 28 per cent of pet cats aged 11 to 14 years develop at least one old-age related behaviour problem and this increases to more than 50 per cent for cats over the age of 15."
Experts suggest that good diet, mental stimulation and companionship can reduce the risk of dementia in both humans and cats. Gunn-Moore explained: "If humans and their cats live in a poor environment with little company and stimulation, they are both at higher risk of dementia. However, if the owner plays with the cat, it is good for both human and cat. A good diet enriched with antioxidants is also helpful in warding off dementia, so a cat owner sharing healthy meals like chicken and fish with their pet will benefit them both."
The new findings may eventually help scientists come up with novel treatments for Alzheimer's by examining cats who suffer from, or have succumbed to, the disease.
with the University of Edinburgh
My Gram's cat
Her name is Grey Baby, she's going to be 21 years old this year, and she has become deaf, and started showing signs of Alzheimer's or dementia. She is a sweetie still, and, since she is so old, the vet we take her too doesn't want to do anything to her fearing she'll have a stroke. She has also started to have seizures in the past couple of days. Does anyone have any advice for me?
Older Cats - Knowing When to Let Go
Hi,
We have a cat who's over 17, and Mergitroid or "Merg" has been my special baby for a long time. However, she's becoming more and more confused the older she gets - and is almost completely deaf now. To me, it's a quality of life issue. She's starting to have issues with bathing herself/keeping herself clean, and I am coming to the conclusion we need to put her down soon.
To me, I want my little luv to be comfortable and happy in this life; when she gets to a point where she's no longer enjoying her daily life - I feel it's my responsibility to help her out. While some might see this as cruel or premature, I would like to think that it's actually the most humane thing to do. Who wants their loved one to suffer? So, to me, the seizures your Gram's cat is having indicate that she's suffering. I would take this as it's her time to go.
We put down or French Poodle "Go Go" at 17, and she lived a long and wonderful life. When she lost control of her bowels, was blind, and no longer able to hear, we realized it was time to do the loving thing. A vet student came to the house and injected her on our couch; she was relaxed and comfortable as she just "went to sleep." That's what I hope to do with Merg. I don't want the stress of a vet's office, and the price is reazonable ($50 or so). To me, our pets look to us to take care of them - and this includes when to "let go."
From the heart,
Christina
My Kitty
Dear Christina,
I've had the wonderful experience of knowing & loving a very very sweet dispositioned kitty since he was 6 weeks old. In June he will be 17.. He is the only pet I ever had. I'm sure he is deaf now. He is also sitting around meowing loudly & often until I become visible - seems like a child when their mother has walked away & out of sight. He has also been missing the litter box now & then & long ago he stopped covering his pee & poop.. This morning he got on my pillow while I slept & meowed as if telling me to get up & feed him even though there was food waiting fro him. I didn't get up until a moment later I smelled urine. Sure enough he peed on my pillow - I am wondering if I should have to put him down, what do you do with his little body then? I am so sad & so not ready to let go but of course I will do what's best for him.. my heart is aching.
Julie
julie713@cox.net
Letting Go
We also came to the painful decision to let my beloved kitty be put down. He had a bit of dementia, lost control of his bowels, had a stroke, was confused... generally just an old, old man at age 17. But, he was just the best cat ever! A constant companion to myself and my mother.
My mother also suffered from Alzheimer's, and that cat stayed by her side day and night for many, many years. When he would head outside to prowl, Mom would look for the cat when he went missing.
As my mother aged, she lost weight, was in terrible shape and eventually fell and broke her hip, ended up in the hospital with a bleeding ulcer and lost her battle lingering in the hospital for a month. At home, my precious little luv was so confused because Mom didn't come home, he had separation anxiety and for his last year he slowly deteriorated.
My Mom suffered in pain for that month in the hospital, and I'll never forgive the medical institution for not allowing her the dignity of being released from her suffering. My decision to give my kitty that release from his suffering was based on what I had observed happening to my Mom, and because at least, I had the ability to show him the humanity that is lacking when we allow our fellow humans who we love and adore to suffer an even worse situation. I released him with my family present, for he was just as much a part of my family life as any other family member. We were his "forever" home, and he was my "forever" kitty.
Our poor baby
Hi, I also have a cat who is now 20 years old in human years. My poor girl Alice is also having seizures, we took her to the vet and she had high blood pressure and a wee bit low on her potassium. He thinks the blood pressure pills might work for her. Its only been 2 days and she really hasn't shown any signs of improvement yet. I will just hope this works. Your vet doesn't seem that good maybe you should get a second opinion? My cat had them at the end of last year not very frequently and was given potassium which really helped her, now she has them about 3 times in 24hrs so I think you should get a second opinion, just incase this happens to your girl =)
My Cat's Old Too
Hi, My cat, Grizelda is 18 Years, (older than I am ...) and I love her to pieces. we have recently discovered that she is deaf and doesn't eat much any more ... She is very frail and can't manage even the cat flap anymore, let alone the fences to get back into the garden if she is left out front. I am worried that she won't move when a car pulls up, as i found her the other day facing the wrong way down the road and I saw a car coming ... luckily i ran out and stopped it ... i don't think she has dementia or anything like that, i just think she is old and losing her sanity a wee bit lol
I love her oh so much but I know that her time must be soon ... we have already agreed as a family that 20 years old is a good lifetime for her and will have her taken to the vet when she reaches that age ...
XXX <3 xxx
How old is too old?
My dear tabby cat Kabuki is 20 years old. She is blind in one eye (glaucoma) and very thin although she eats like a horse. She too wanders around crying and seems rather lost most of the time. She still loves a cuddle and purrs and dribbles like a mad thing. She uses her litter tray regularly and never has any accidents. I took her to a vet about 16 months ago and he said he could see no reason to put her to sleep and her heart was very strong. I think she has gone down hill since then and her constant crying is annoying although she does sleep much of the time. I don't know what to do, if she is in pain I would have her put down immediately but I can't really tell. She also has very bad arthritis and finds it hard to get up after lying down. She has been with us for so long now she is older than all my kids and we would miss her dearly but don't want to see her in any pain. What to do?
My Old Gal Bijou
My girl Bijou is going to be 16 in May and has been showing signs of dimentia for a while now. At first I put it off as just a bit of confusion in her old age but I have noticed in the last year she is so different than she used to be even a year or so ago.
She doesnt groom herself as much anymore and when I try to brush her she growls at me. she forgets that I have fed her and meows everytime I am in the kitchen,she meows as if asking to be fed. I see her sitting at her crunchies bowl sniffing it and she will eat some of it.
I have found her sitting in front of a wall looking straight at it. staring at it as if its going to do something any minute now. She growls alot more as she has always been a growler but now does this even when I just go to pet her.
She has been having accidents often, its like she makes it to the box but doesnt go into the box. she does her business outside of it. She pees in the box but on a few occations I have found items that smelled like pee so makes me wonder. This has not happened often but the poop issue is a situation that is occuring about 3 times or so a week. It's not a problem cleaning up after her but it is frustrating that I can not do anything to help her with this issue.
She is much more demanding of my time wanting on my lap constantly. She sleeps alot more.
I feel bad for her as I realize that it's her old age showing through and I need to come to terms with this fact. She is not going to live forever although of course I would like for her to live longer. I feel its unfair for her to let her go on like this. Yet I feel aweful at the thought of even having to put her to sleep. Its such a difficult decision to make.
Canadian Gal
My Cat
I have to cats and they are litter mates. we got them both when they were 6 weeks old and are both now 11. (12 in August). One of them is completly fine. While the other one is getting lost and crying. wakeing up at odd hours and crying. wants to eat every hour. and just sits in conners and stares for hours.
Yowling during the night - solutions
For our 21 year old Ginger yowling at night - we had to create a routine where we "put her to bed" every night by luring her with a bowl of food to a rec room on the other side of the house from the bedroom. We would lock her in there with a nice cat post, cat bed, toys and of course water and cat box. She would get up an yowl during the night but we couldn't hear it. We also used a sound machine to drown it out. She still yowled whether we let her roam the house or locked her in a room sooo we opted for quality of sleep. Even if we sat up with her, she would calm down and 10 minutes later start yolwing again, no signs of pain or discomfort, just "lost".