Is it possible for a cat to become senile?

Question

We have two cats, Simba who is 12, and Rocky who is 7.

So I feed Simba after he moans on for a few minutes and then after eating both his and Rocky's bowls of food, he will go back to the cupboard where the food is kept and start meowing and scratching at it again. We've checked him for worms and other parasites and he's clean and there's nothing wrong with his digestive system. He's sleeping a lot more than he used to.
Is it possible that he's going senile?

Answer 1

They can, but 12 isn't really that old for a house cat...sounds more like he's just really hungry to me! If he's been cleared by a vet and there's nothing wrong, try giving him something a little more substantial in his food (maybe mix in a little wet or tuna) and see if this is more satisfying to him...after all, Rocky needs to eat too!

Answer 2

Yes, he could be forgetting that he has already eaten. Cats often show this behaviour when they are very old (although 12 is not very old, for a cat - some live until they are 18, or even 20).



Sleeping a lot (in older humans) is one of the signs of senility, as is increased hunger and forgetfulness.



If he's been checked out by the vet and you are sure there isn't anything physically wrong with him, then you will just have to accept and live with this (as I do who lives with a human who has the same problems).

Answer 3

Yes, cats can go senile, though 12 is really not that old. I take it all the worm and parasite checking was done by a vet? If so, I would just hope it's a phase he'll move past. At least for the time being it sounds like you need to feed your cats separately.



**Added** The average life expectancy for an indoor cat is 15-18 and with recent advances in veterinary care it is not at all unusual for cats to live into their 20s. So no, 12 is not that old, and I have known a lot of cats who have lived past 12 without going senile.

Answer 4

Yes they can, we have a 18 year old cat who has 'catzheimers' (our nickname for it, not veterinary terminology!)

He's in pretty good health for his age, but there are pretty evident signs that he forgets what he was doing, where he was going etc, he forgets where the food is put down and keeps coming into the kitchen asking for food, he forgets how to use the cat flap, but then the next day he'll remember things, at 12 your cat is not that old, i dont hink he would be senile at that agem but def check with your vet incase there are any other underlying health problems

Answer 5

I just want to comment about the sleeping a lot, a senile cats sometimes have a night time howling... to ease this try to break his daytime sleep cycle by frequently but gently waking him during the day.

Sometimes senile cats tend to forget to use litter box, for this situation you need to set an extra litter box in different rooms and on each level of your house.

Answer 6

A 12 year old cat is like a 60 year old human, way too young for senility. I suggest you bring him in for a check-up to make sure his changed behavior doesn't indicate a serious health problem.



Cats usually don't act sick the way we do. Instead, the first sign of illness is often a behavior change.

Answer 7

I think it is possible for cats to go senile because we had a 15 year old cat who looked as if she didn't know where she was and wandered around oddly.

I doubt that your cat is going senile, he's maybe just doing that because he knows where the food is and that he's telling you that. Cats ain't dumb animals, that's for sure.

Answer 8

aw yeh it is possible either that or he's just a fatty lol no it's true that animals can have mental issues like humans do for instance if a dog or cat has an accident with head trauma, the vet will tell the owner that they might see some personality changes. so it is possible

Answer 9

Yeah my cat sometimes forget he eats and cries like i forgot to feed him crazy senile old cat

Answer 10

Am not 100 % sure but I think they can cos have saw cats before in the past who were old and acted very strange

Answer 11

As the average life expectancy of a cat is 13 years, and they are considered geriatric at 9 years of age, then 12 sure as heck IS old.



And yes, they can suffer many ... if not most ... of the same chronic conditions as old humans do. Including dementia.



I had a cat once who lived to almost 21. He was deaf, had bad cataracts, and was mentally a bit off too when he died.

Answer 12

cats can go senile. i don't know whats happening here. as animals get older they will sleep longer anyway because the day takes more out of them.

as for begging for food... i don't know. she may have learnt that begging equates to more food only recently?

Answer 13

I don't think it means he's senile. I think he just likes to eat a lot.

Answer 14

aw, i love cats. it's probably an age thing.