Feline cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) is an age-related decline in memory, learning, perception and awareness that appears as behaviour change in older cats. It is easy to miss because owners assume it is normal ageing, and it is only diagnosed after the many treatable senior-cat diseases that cause the same signs have been excluded.
Key facts
Cognitive dysfunction at a glance- Species and system: older cats (signs often start around 10 years or more); nervous system and behaviour.
- Cause: brain ageing. MSD notes beta-amyloid accumulation and vulnerability to oxidative damage, similar to early Alzheimer disease in people.
- Classic presentation: night-time yowling, disorientation, altered sleep-wake pattern, house-soiling, changed interaction with the owner.
- Diagnosis: by exclusion; there is no confirmatory test in the live cat.
- Treatment: environmental management first; diets and supplements; selegiline is used extralabel.
- Zoonotic or reportable: no.
What's inside
11 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnoses
- Treatment and management
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 3 tables, 3 self-test questions and 6 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
The full guide is part of every NAVLE plan, with diagnosis and treatment tables, figures, a quick review and self-test questions. Start a free trial to try the question bank, or log in if you are already a member.