Cognitive dysfunction in cats – signs and care

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: International Cat Care (iCatCare)

Book a vet visit

Book a vet appointment if you think your cat has this – a vet needs to confirm it and plan the treatment. It is a condition that can affect a cat’s memory, behaviour and everyday routines.

What to do now

What you can do now

  1. Contact your vet.
  2. Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see.
  3. Take a photo or short video to show the vet.
  4. Keep fresh water available.
  5. Let your cat rest somewhere calm.

Don't

  • Do not give any human medicine.
  • Do not wait if it gets worse.

What it is

It can involve changes in orientation, sleep-wake cycles, toileting and vocalisation.[1] A diagnosis is usually made after other conditions that can cause similar signs have been ruled out.[1] Although it cannot be cured, its signs may be reduced with suitable management discussed with your veterinary team.[1]

Signs

  • Spatial disorientation
  • Temporal disorientation, such as forgetting that they have just had feeding time
  • Changes in sleep-wake cycles
  • Toileting in the house, including passing urine or faeces in unusual places
  • Excessive vocalisation, such as loud crying that can be disruptive at night
  • Altered interaction or relationships with owners or other pets
  • Altered interest in food, including eating more or less
  • Grooming less, resulting in a dull, matted coat
  • Changes in general behaviour, such as being more irritable, anxious or less responsive
  • Changes in learning and memory, activity, or movement such as aimless wandering or pacing

Causes and risk factors

  • Reaching the senior years

How a vet finds out

  • Physical examination
  • Blood tests
  • Blood pressure measurement
  • Ruling out other conditions that can cause similar signs, including hyperthyroidism, chronic kidney disease and high blood pressure

How vets treat it

  • Making changes to your cat’s home
  • Changing their diet
  • Supplementing their diet
  • Some drug therapies may be available

What the experts say

“A diagnosis is usually made once other conditions that can cause similar signs (such as hyperthyroidism, chronic kidney disease and high blood pressure) have been ruled out.”

— International Cat Care (iCatCare) [1]
If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

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Common questions

What signs can cognitive dysfunction syndrome cause in cats?

Signs can include spatial or temporal disorientation, changes in sleep-wake cycles, toileting in the house and excessive vocalisation.[1]

How does a vet find out if a cat has it?

A diagnosis is usually made after other conditions that can cause similar signs, such as hyperthyroidism, chronic kidney disease and high blood pressure, have been ruled out.[1]

How may a vet treat cognitive dysfunction syndrome?

Suitable management may include changes to your cat’s home, changing or supplementing their diet, and some drug therapies.[1]

Sources

  1. International Cat Care (iCatCare)

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

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