Is the "Night Crying" of an Elderly Cat a Sign? — That "Accident" Might Be a Call for Help: Dementia in Cats, 8 Signs and the Latest in Care

An article dated September 3, 2025, on Phys.org explained that cats, like humans, can suffer from dementia (feline cognitive dysfunction syndrome), with behavioral changes being the first signs. The typical eight signs include: ① abnormal vocalizations such as nighttime crying, ② changes in social interactions like increased affection or irritability, ③ disrupted sleep cycles, ④ inappropriate elimination outside the litter box, ⑤ loss of direction, ⑥ changes in activity levels or decreased grooming, ⑦ anxiety behaviors, and ⑧ decline in learning and memory. It is essential to first differentiate from conditions like arthritis, kidney disease, and hyperthyroidism. For mild cases, environmental enrichment to encourage play and exploration, as well as supplementation with antioxidants and essential fatty acids, is suggested (note that supplements for dogs are contraindicated). Meanwhile, a study from August 2025 reported that in the brains of cats with dementia, amyloid-beta accumulates at synapses, and microglia and astrocytes engage in phagocytosis of synapses, showing pathology similar to human Alzheimer's disease. This raises the potential for cats to serve as a natural model for human treatment research. On social media, experiences related to "nighttime crying," "wandering," and "inappropriate elimination" are frequently shared, along with warnings to first rule out internal medical conditions.