Pets and dementia, my cats no longer like my mother which is odd. Has anyone else noticed anything similar?

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Pets and dementia, my cats no longer like my mother which is odd. Has anyone else noticed anything similar?

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A bit of a lighter random topic,... They say pets are good for dementia and my mother absolutely adores my cats. I care for them but she does get joy out of giving them treats and watching them. It’s the one thing that she really cares about. If out shopping, she wants to return home to the cats etc. However lately I have noticed my cats withdraw away from her. They used to love being in her lap and soaking up the attention. Now if we try, they bounce like a lightning bolt out of her lap. If she tries to hold one, they push away. Makes me sad as they mean so much to her and I can see her upset about it. It’s really strange as she hasn’t done anything that I can think of that might contribute to this. She sometimes acts out but not towards the cats, never. She gets grumpy at me and storms off at times but not with the cats. I’m wondering if the cats sense the dementia and therefore feel uneasy around her, somehow lack trust? Has anyone else noticed anything similar? Unfortunately I also noticed one of them has now started peeing in her room. Nowhere else,... just her wardrobe. Due to incontinence, some of mums clothes can smell a little despite being washed (at least to a pets nose) so I’m wondering if the cat is trying to mark against that. This is actually all very interesting but unfortunate. Just curious if anyone else has noticed something similar.

Alzheimer's & Dementia Pets

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Recent research has discovered that dogs can “sniff out” Alzheimer's disease by smelling odor changes in urine samples. Scientific research has found that in the early stages of Alzheimer's, the smell of a person's urine can change.

If dogs can 'sniff out' Alzheimer's, why not cats?

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Sadly, I experienced something similar, just recently. My mother visited for a month from another state. Her dementia is advanced, and she was loud, aggressive, and confrontational during the visit, with hallucinations, etc. I stayed so busy with her that I didn't pay the cat enough attention, though I noticed that she was eating a lot less. Eventually, she stopped eating altogether. After my mother's visit, I took the cat to the vet. He explained what her medical issue was. I asked him why she would stop eating. He said that often, it was related to a change in environment, particularly a chaotic one. He asked if someone new had moved in - roommate, etc. I believe that was my answer.

He taught me how to syringe-feed her, with the hope that she would begin to eat again, but she never did. She died two weeks later.

Please keep an eye on things, and if your cats don't want to be around her, don't encourage it.

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So sorry to hear about what happened to your cat. Yes stress can kill animals and people.

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If your Moms clothes still have an odor I suggest soaking in vinegar water before washing. Do not dry them in a dryer. This sets in odors. Hang them out in the fresh air. If they need ironing, you can place a damp washcloth in the dryer, throw in the clothes and set to hi and dry for 5 min or so. My DH was having prostate problems. I used Arm and Hammer at the time but still soaked things in vinegar. I switched to Tide regular and I haven't needed to use vinegar with his stuff.

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Thanks @JoAnn29, that probably explains why Mums clothes never smell fully fresh as admittedly I do use the dryer a lot (to cut back on time and because I wash so much). To my nose I can’t smell urine per say but they don’t smell fresh either. I can imagine to an animal, they would still smell it. I try keep Mums wardrobe closed at all times but she darn opens it all the time haha. I will definitely try the vinegar and hang at least some of them out rather than use dryer. Thanks!

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It’s quite possible that they sense something that we can’t. I remember both times I was pregnant. Our dogs and cats definitely knew something was different about me. Maybe they sense something else at play. Maybe her body is changing. Have you checked for a UTI? They might sense something is wrong.

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Thanks Lizbitty, a slight UTI seems a re-occurring problem with Mum :( I try get her to drink fluids and also have rinses down there twice a day. Before she came down with dementia she was told her bladder wasn’t fully emptying (a cyst or something) and she already had slight incontinence problems back then like many women. She would go to toilet, think she had finished and as she would stand up, her bladder would start emptying again and she’d have to repeat. She’s been on the waiting list for surgery for years now, sigh. She should have opted to go through the private sector back then and pay portion and not general hospital. Now they prob won’t bother anymore as the dementia will cause incontinence anyhow. But yes, I agree, the cats can sense something that tells them she’s not healthy.

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Her acting out although not directed at the cats is stressing them out and the reason they no longer want anything to do with your mom. It's sad because they bring her joy but her negative behavior which she has no control over has pushed them away from her. There really is no solution unless your mom stops with her out bursts.

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yes I agree, I mean if Mum makes me stressed out with her pacing and storming off, they’d have the same effect on the cats likely. Obviously I have the addition of understanding the verbal remarks Mum makes but no doubt the cats sense the tone.

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Dogs, cats and babies are typically comforting to dementia patients. An animal's sense of smell is much keener than we humans. Although I've never heard of dementia giving off any odor, could the cats be possibly smelling a repulsive odor that we humans can't sense? Is your mom incontinent? That could surely be a reason.

You might want to consider a stuffed cat.Some are quite life like.

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My Mother adored children, yet when her dementia advanced, she was quiet and uncomfortable around them. Guess it depends on the individual.

Pets and dementia, my cats no longer like my mother which is odd. Has anyone else noticed anything similar?

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