Feline cognitive dysfunction syndrome affects a significant proportion of older cats, causing confusion, altered sleep patterns, and reduced interaction. Recognition and management improve welfare significantly.
Cats with CDS experience genuine confusion and disorientation that reduces quality of life and can cause significant distress, particularly during night-time episodes. Recognition of CDS in older cats through regular cognitive assessment enables earlier intervention with dietary, environmental, and pharmaceutical approaches that slow progression and improve welfare. Many owners mistakenly attribute CDS signs to normal ageing rather than a manageable condition.