Research overview: sensory aspects of feline cognitive dysfunction

Older cats can develop cognitive dysfunction, a decline in mental function that interacts with changes in the senses. This overview surveys the sensory aspects of feline cognitive dysfunction, in which aging cats may show disorientation, altered responses to stimuli, changes in sleep, and increased vocalization, sometimes compounded by declining vision and hearing. Reduced sensory input can contribute to confusion and changed behavior in affected cats. The survey relates cognitive dysfunction to the broader aging of the senses and the brain and to the care of senior cats showing behavioral changes. It discusses the difficulty of disentangling sensory decline from cognitive decline. Understanding the sensory dimension of cognitive dysfunction connects the aging of perception to the aging of the mind. It shows that as cats grow old, changes in the senses and in cognition can reinforce one another, and it underscores the importance of supporting senior cats whose perception and behavior are both shifting with age.