Has my cat got dementia?

[Lovemusic33]

My lovely boy is 11 years old, best cat I have ever owned, not a bad bone in his body, never been playful, follows me around, shares my bed and doesn't go far.

The past few weeks he has been behaving oddly, several times he has attacked in the night, mainly feet if I move, he's never done this before. He also asks to go out and within 2 minutes is back at the door, or he will go out the front door and within 2 minutes he's at the back door, 2 minutes later he's asking to go out again and repeats the process several times. He meows at his food bowl a lot more than usual. He seems happy, not in pain but occasionally just acts odd, looking around the room and giving me evil looks like he's going to pounce on me.

I don't know of its worth taking him to the vets, he's not sick, is there anything they can do if it is dementia?

Hey, I think a full vet exam is the way forward. Even just to get the all clear from any pain or physical condition. They should advise you about his behaviour too

My dear old cat displayed similar behaviour when she was about 17, she would meow at her food as if she couldn’t see it. She would meow at night, not distressed but not her normal meow. Would repeatedly ask to go out but look at me like I was stupid. She would wake up from her usual napping and seem disoriented but would respond to reassurance. Her regular vet checks were fine, but our vet suggested due to her age some of her faculties weren’t as sharp. She was like this until we had to make the decision to say goodbye last summer aged 19. A vet check would be useful just to rule anything out but at no point was i under the impression anything could be done for dementia in ageing cats.

I’d take him to the vet to rule out physical causes.

look at me like I was stupid
Mine does this but then again I am stupid

@StarCat2020

look at me like I was stupid Mine does this but then again I am stupid

All my cats have looked at me as though I am stupid from a very young age.

Mine did this, I took a video to show the vet. He had a thyroid issue (common in older cats) and was put on medication to treat. He improved and lived to 23 ( died over Easter unfortunately)

Could be a thyroid issue, I remember my mums cat having this and he was fine once given medication, he used to sit on the fence outside and refuse to come in for days.

I can’t find anything physically wrong, he lets me check him over, even loves his tummy rubbed, he’s always acted more like a dog than a cat (grew up with a dog who is now sadly gone), that’s why the attacking my feet in the night is really odd, I have bought him so many toys in the past and he refuses to chase or play with anything but now as soon as I move in bed he attacks me. He is quite fat but loosing his winter coat, he always gets really skinny in the summer so I haven’t been too worried about him being a bit over weight but I guess thins could be thyroid related?

Hope that the vet is able to help, Op.