Feline cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS), analogous to Alzheimer's disease in humans, causes disorientation, anxiety, and declining quality of life in elderly cats.
Cats with advanced CDS experience a deeply altered quality of life. The disorientation of being in familiar surroundings that no longer feel familiar is distressing. Night vocalization - often described as a desperate, confused yowling - suggests the cat experiences significant anxiety and confusion during these episodes. The personality changes can be profound, with previously affectionate cats becoming distant or aggressive. The welfare challenge is recognizing CDS as a medical condition requiring management rather than a behavioral problem to be corrected, and providing appropriate support to keep the cat comfortable.