Plus-Hex CLINICAL
ABSTRACT In senior cats , behaviour issues such as house soiling , excessive vocalisation , aimless wandering , overgrooming and clingy attachment are often attributed to old age . However , they could be associated with cognitive dysfunction syndrome ( CDS ). Although CDS is a well-known disease in dogs , it is not as well recognised in cats .
This study aimed to investigate potential barriers to the treatment and management of these behavioural signs in senior cats . The data for this study were obtained via a survey of 95 veterinary surgeons ( VSs ) who had been presented with a cat over the age of 8 years displaying signs of a behavioural issue , within the past 2 years .
The findings suggested that barriers to the treatment of cats with CDS were underdiagnosis and the VS not offering the recommended treatment and management options . Owner attitudes towards their cat , and how much they perceived the problem to be impacting on their lives , were contributing factors to compliance with a treatment plan . This study highlights a need for further investigation .
Keywords cognitive dysfunction syndrome , CDS , cats , feline , behaviour , age , old
Introduction
Senior domestic cats ( Felis catus ) are often presented to a veterinary surgeon ( VS ) when displaying behaviour issues such as house soiling , excessive vocalisation , aimless wandering , overgrooming and clingy attachment [ 1 ] , which may be linked to cognitive dysfunction syndrome ( CDS ). CDS is a widely accepted diagnosis in dogs ( Canis lupus familiaris ) [ 2 ] , and many treatments and supplements are available for canine patients .
CDS is defined as age-related deterioration of cognitive abilities , characterised by behavioural changes where no medical cause can be found [ 3 ] . The exact cause of CDS in cats remains unknown . However , several alterations in the brain are believed to be involved in its development , including oxidative damage , vascular changes and compromised cerebrovascular blood flow [ 4 ] .
Studies suggest that age-related behavioural changes consistent with cognitive dysfunction are prevalent in cats as early as 10 years of age and prevalence increases significantly in older cats . Behavioural signs in ageing cats reported by owners are house soiling , excessive vocalisation , disorientation , aimless wandering , restlessness , irritability / aggression , fear / hiding , clingy attachment and overgrooming [ 1 ] .
Signs of CDS may be difficult for owners to identify because , according to Ray et al . [ 5 ] , ‘ feline motivations can be occult , inter- and intra-cat differences abound ; also changes appear gradually and mimic adaptive responses to chronic pain ‘. The same authors go on to say that owners and VSs may therefore attribute signs of CDS to ‘ just being an old cat ‘ [ 5 ] .
Making changes to the owner ' s home to optimise the environment for the cat can be recommended , but this may be difficult for owners to achieve as , often , these changes also have an impact on the owner ' s life . Possible environmental adaptations include having multiple litter trays around the house , installing ramps to resources , placing all resources in one room , and giving the cat its own room [ 3 ] , as well as having perches , shelves and hiding places [ 6 ] .
Owner compliance , along with early diagnosis [ 7 ] and treatment , is key to a successful outcome for a cat with CDS . However , owners and VSs often mistake the behavioural signs of CDS for normal changes due to ageing , so many treatable conditions are neglected and go untreated [ 3 ] .
CDS cannot be cured , so treatment is aimed at slowing the advancement of neuronal damage and cell death and improving clinical signs [ 8 ] . Clinical signs may be improved with medical and behavioural interventions such as a mixture of supplements , dietary changes and environmental adaptations [ 3 , 4 ] . However , owners ' and VSs ' attitudes towards the diagnosis and treatment of cats with CDS are key to the management of the condition and , ultimately , the outcomes and the longevity of the cat [ 3 ] .
VSs therefore need to have a good understanding of the recommended treatment options for cats with CDS , such as educating owners on environmental optimisation , supplements containing essential fatty acids , antioxidants and B vitamins , use of pheromones and selegiline [ 5 ] , as well as the use of S-adenosyl-Lmethionine ( SAMe ) ( NoviSAMe ; generic SAMe ). Araujo et al . [ 9 ] found that elderly cats given SAMe showed an improvement in their abilities during cognitive tests , including object discrimination and reversal learning . VSs should also be aware of new evidence-based treatments , supplements and clinical diets [ 10 ] or products that become more readily available as advances are made in veterinary medicine .
Owner compliance with the treatment plan can be influenced by how much the cat ' s behaviour issues , such as house soiling , are breaking down the cat – owner bond [ 11 ] . It is especially important to address house soiling , as this behaviour may result in the euthanasia of the cat [ 12 ] . In elderly cats , other factors can also cause a breakdown in the cat – owner bond – for example , a cat with unpleasant breath due to dental problems , or a cat that no longer wants to play with its owner or becomes aggressive when it is picked up ( both of which could be due to pain associated with osteoarthritis ).
Volume 38 ( 6 ) • December 2023
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