Cat Involutive Depression – Taking Care of a Senior Feline
Cats are truly wonderful creatures. Our feline familiars give us years of companionship and love. Senior cats deserve to be comfortable and happy in their final years. Some older cats can experience physical problems that are a part of ageing. What many cat owners don’t realise, however, is that older cats are also prone to developing mental health conditions such as anxiety, involutive depression and dementia.
Cats that are dealing with issues such as joint pain or diseases can suffer from extreme anxiety. This anxiety can lead them to become depressed, which can affect their energy levels, their appetite, and their alertness. If a cat has developed dementia, it may become confused and apprehensive about its surroundings, leading to greater levels of anxiety and depression. All of this is incredibly stressful for an older cat and traumatic for its owners.
All cat owners should be aware of the signs of mental health problems in their older felines. Knowing exactly what symptoms to look for can ensure that you get your beloved kitty the help it needs. In this article, we’ll look at feline anxiety, cat involutive depression, and dementia in senior cats. Keep reading to learn what these conditions are and what you can do if you have an older cat that is showing signs of anxiety, stress, depression, or dementia.
What is Involutive Depression in Cats?
Just like humans can suffer from low moods and feelings of melancholy, so can our feline friends. The term involutive depression refers to when people in their late middle age or in their senior years (the involutional years) suffer from chronic depression.1 Also known as involutional melancholia or involutional depression, this condition can affect our ageing cats as well as ourselves.
Cats are considered to be elderly once they reach 11 years of age and are classified as geriatric or super seniors from the age of 15 upwards. These are the ages when a cat is most likely to develop involutional depression. If a cat does have involutive depression, it will become overly lethargic, lose its appetite, and stop grooming itself. Often, a cat with involutive depression will become very disorganised in its behaviour.
Involutive depression in elderly cats is most often linked to the development of cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS), sometimes called feline cognitive dysfunction (FCD). CDS is a condition that is much like Alzheimer’s Disease in humans.2 Eventually, CDS leads to dementia. A cat that has CDS is prone to feelings of extreme anxiety which can bring on involutive depression. Without treatment, the cat can then wind up in a vicious cycle where the anxiety and depression it is experiencing exacerbate the symptoms of CDS.
How to Know if Your Senior Cat Has Involutive Depression
Many people believe that cats are solitary, emotionally distanced animals that do not develop attachments or bonds with their owners. Cat lovers, of course, know that this is far from the case. The reality is that cats are highly sensitive and affectionate animals that can experience and express a wide range of emotions. But even for experienced cat owners, it can be difficult to judge just how your cat is feeling. Cats can often mask their emotions and hide their illnesses. In many cases, it takes a keen eye to spot when a cat is in trouble.
Older cats can develop involutive depression for a range of reasons. Senior cats can become very set in their ways and their routines. Any sudden changes to an older cat’s normal routine can cause them to develop high levels of anxiety which can lead to involutive depression. Moving house, the loss of a companion pet, the loss of an owner, or changes to the usual schedules can greatly upset an older cat.
While changes in behaviour caused by involutive depression can be subtle, there are symptoms to watch out for. Cats that are going through involutive depression may display the following symptoms:
- Lack of appetite
- Increased lethargy
- Sleeping in unusual places such as in the litterbox, the bathtub, or in the rain
- Increased vocalisation
- Loss of interest in toys or going outside (if allowed)
- Loss of interest in interacting with other animals or humans
- Reduced grooming and unkept coats
- Increased frequency of urination
- Not consistently using their litter box to urinate and defecate
- Defecating in their sleeping areas
It must be kept in mind that one or a combination of these symptoms can also point to other health issues. Cats naturally hide physical ailments, so it’s not always easy to tell if your cat is suffering from involutive depression or is actually sick. If your cat shows any of the symptoms above, it’s best to have them assessed by a veterinarian.
Common Symptoms of Anxiety in Older Cats
Anxiety is defined as a heightened emotional state that is accompanied by physical and emotional reactions to being threatened. Unlike feelings of fear, anxiety is a pathological state.3 Cats that are overly anxious can become more aggressive, withdrawn, and antisocial. A cat that is suffering from anxiety can become depressed, which can cause the anxiety to become worse.
If your cat is anxious, it may display one or more of the following behaviours:
- Spraying or defecating outside the litter box
- Increased destructive behaviour
- Increased aggression
- Continuous vocalisation
- Repeated pacing
- Heightened state of awareness
- Easily alarmed by loud noises or sudden movements
As well as these behavioural changes, cats can also exhibit physical signs of anxiety:
- Shaking or trembling
- Frequent crouching
- Dilated pupils
- Lethargy
- Pica (Consuming non-food items like plastic)
- Over-grooming
- Constant rapid breathing
- Diarrhoea
- Vomiting
- Weight loss or weight gain
- Excessive nose licking
Once again, if your cat is showing any of these symptoms, it’s best to have them looked at by a vet to rule out any physical causes.
How CDS Affects Older Cats
It is unfortunately quite common for cats that are over the age of 10 to develop CDS. According to cat rescue organisations, more than half the number of cats that are aged 11 to 15 will develop CDS. Over 80% of cats aged from 16 to 20 years will develop CDS.4 CDS affects cats in much the same way that Alzheimer’s Disease can affect people.
Cats with CDS can forget how to perform normal care functions and become disorientated in familiar surroundings. They may withdraw from social interactions, have sleep issues, and become more aggressive. They may also get stuck in odd places such as in corners or behind furniture, fail to recognise their owners, stare into space, or roam aimlessly.
CDS is incredibly traumatic for a cat. Cats that experience CDS have high levels of anxiety and often develop involutive depression. If your cat is showing signs of CDS it is important to have a vet assess them as soon as possible.
Why Depression and Anxiety Can Be Dangerous for Older Cats
Depression and anxiety on their own are not technically life-threatening for cats. But if left untreated, involutive depression and anxiety can cause cats to develop high levels of stress, which can have negative impacts on their physical health and shorten their lifespan.
Cats with anxiety and involutive depression are also more prone to having accidents, developing lesions or sores from overgrooming or under-grooming, and may wander into dangerous situations such as oncoming traffic while disorientated.
How to Treat Anxiety and Involutive Depression in Senior Cats
Any cat that shows signs of involutive depression, anxiety or CDS should be assessed by a professional veterinarian. While CDS cannot be cured, a vet may recommend medications to lessen the effects. There are also actions you can take to help a cat that is anxious, depressed, or has CDS.
- Anti-anxiety medication or pheromone sprays can help cats to feel calmer and alleviate their feelings of anxiety.
- Sticking to a constant routine can also help your cat feel safer.
- Place extra litter trays around the home and make sure your cat can access them easily.
- Don’t scold your cat if it sprays or defecates outside its litter box.
- Try and increase playtime periods to deplete your cat’s nervous energy and help it to sleep.
- Feed your cat food that is high in Vitamin E and antioxidants.
- Place ramps around the home so your cat can more easily climb onto comfortable areas.
- Add extra sleeping areas for your cat.
- Be aware of any instances where your cat gets stuck and starts to feel distressed.
- Always treat your cat gently, be patient and show your cat plenty of love and affection.
Conclusion
Chronic anxiety in cats can lead them to develop involutive depression. Both depression and anxiety are byproducts of feline dementia, cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS). If a cat owner does not treat their cat’s anxiety, then it can worsen both involutive depression and the symptoms of CDS.
If your cat is showing signs of anxiety, then an all-natural stress reliever like Lactium® can help it to feel calmer. Lactium® is a completely natural product made from hydrolysed milk protein. It has been clinically proven to reduce stress and anxiety in humans and animals. Lactium® is non-addictive and has no side effects. It’s a gentle way to help soothe your favourite feline’s anxiety issues.
