At this age cats may start to show one or more symptoms of cognitive decline. Cat dementia officially known as feline cognitive dysfunction refers to a gradual decline in cognitive abilities caused by ageing-related changes in the brain. Today cats live longer than ever and may have a lifespan of 20-21 years2.
Just like us humans might experience physical or mental health changes as we get older so do our feline friends. Reviewed and updated for accuracy on October 28 2019 by Dr. Unfortunately cats that are lucky to live a long life may experience some level of cat dementia. Dementia in cats is unfortunately common but its often misdiagnosed and misunderstood.