Your senior cat’s increased affection and chatty behavior may seem charming, but these could be early signs of feline cognitive dysfunction, or FCD, a type of progressive feline dementia.

A recent  study showed that brain changes in cats with FCD are very similar to those in people with Alzheimer’s disease. However, with cats, we often mistake the behavioral changes for normal aging.

Most cats with FCD vocalize more, have accidents in the house and seem clingier. Additional signs may include restless sleep, anxiety and disorientation, slowing down and memory lapses.

Other common conditions in elderly cats — like pain, high blood pressure and hyperthyroidism — can also cause these signs. So, it’s important to have your veterinarian rule them out and formulate a plan to make your cat more comfortable.