Feline Cognitive Dysfunction

Overview

Feline cognitive dysfunction (FCD) leads to an overall decline in cognitive function. This can affect memory, capacity for learning, awareness and visual and audio perception. It can lead to various symptoms including disturbance in sleep patterns, a reduction in activity, confusion. Past learned habits become forgotten, for example the location of food and water and litter boxes and cats suffer from an increased level of anxiety and inclination to behave aggressively. Social relationships with both other animals and humans can also be affected. In general FCD is less frequently reported in cats than dogs.

Signs

As with all behavioural disorders it is important to ensure that any medical causes for unusual behaviour are ruled out. Medical conditions which could cause behaviour similar to that of FCD include:

• Arthritis
• Dental
• Thyroid dysfunction
• Cancers
• Reduced sight and/or hearing
• Urinary tract disease

Behaviours which may be linked to FCD include:

• Reduced activity

• Moves around the home environment less, performs less grooming and eats less

• Unusual sleeping patterns

• Sleeping longer during the day, waking up at night, restless when asleep, increased vocalisation at night

• Disorientation

• Gets lost, even in familiar places, staring either at specific things or just generally, aimless wandering, inability to find way around or over objects.

• Memory and learning

• Inappropriate elimination outside litter tray, including in sleeping area or near food. May be unable to recognise people or pets.

• Social behaviour

• Decreased interest in being stroked, or interacting with people or other animals or becomes increasingly dependent and doesn't like being alone.

• Anxiety

• Restlessness, increaesed vocalisation and general irritability.

Treatment

Most treatment for FCD is based around providing a stable environment and fixed routine for the cat in question. No drugs are licensed to treat FCD, however selegiline and propentofylline are sometimes used unlicensed. Anti-anxiety medications are also sometimes used. Diets high in antioxidants, arginine, B vitamins and fish oils are thought to improve learning and recollection of learned habits in older cats. Other neutraceutical supplements specifically aimed at maintaining and improving cognitive function are also available and these are contain antioxidants, vitamins, carnitine, phosphatidylserine and fatty acids.