Can my cat get Alzheimer’s?

Dr. William K. Fauks
The Edmond Sun

EDMOND April 20, 2006 01:16 pm

— Q.: We have a sweet old cat who must be around 18 years old — she adopted us 16 years ago as a grown cat. She seems pretty healthy for this age, still eats well, but recently has developed an annoying habit of loudly crying out or meowing constantly — mostly at night. She appears lost or confused when this occurs and only stops when we pick her up and hug her. The vet we took her to had some blood tests run but couldn’t find anything there out of order and didn’t recommend any treatment except that we be patient with her. My questions for you are: Do cats get Alzheimer’s like people do and is there any known effective medicine to control her situation?
— Judy M.
A.: Older cats (and also older dogs) sometimes develop the signs of senile dementia, or cognitive dysfunction, which in some ways does emulate Alzheimer’s syndrome in humans.
The usual signs of this problem in aging cats include some or all of the following: anxiety, disorientation, restlessness and often loud and persistent vocalization as Judy describers in her 18-year-old companion.
One cannot expect a total cure in these victims, but you may improve the quality of life for all concerned with proper psychotropic medication. The most commonly prescribed drugs for this problem in domestic cats are diazepam (Valium) and selegiline (Anipryl, by Pfizer).
If your veterinarian is not familiar with the use of these drugs in treating feline senile dementia I suggest you discuss the problem with a feline specialist. He or she will select the preferred medicament, establish proper dosage and advise you regarding monitoring for possible adverse side effects.
And, finally, I concur with your veterinarian — you need to practice patience and plan to hug your cat companion a lot — after all, she may be around another five or six years.
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Q.: Our kitten is 10 months old. We want to have her spayed, but were told it should be done when she is not in heat. However, she seems to stay almost constantly in a heat period with all of the usual signs — she’s never in a normal state for more than a few days at a time. How dangerous is it to go ahead with the surgery when she’s like this?
— Jeff V.
A.: This type of constant cycling is rare but certainly happens in a small percentage of cats. It is usually due to an ovarian dysfunction. The best time to perform sterilization surgery (ovarohystorectomy) in domestic cats is prior to their first heat period, which normally occurs at 6 to 8 months of age.
Early neutering decreases the likelihood of mammary tumors later in life and the operation is simpler.
With the constant cycling your cat presents the surgeon will encounter a slightly enlarged uterus and increased blood supply, but she should do fine.
(Dr. William K. Fauks is a retired Oklahoma City veterinarian. If you have any questions regarding the health of your pet, please write to “Ask a Vet,” at 3142 Venice Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73112, or e-mail bfauks1@aol.com.)