Cat/pet alternative for person with alz/dementia?

Anonymousjpl123

Hi everyone,

I shared my mom’s disastrous trip to adopt the cat, insisting on going herself with me meeting her there. (They did not approve her as an adopter.)

She still wants a cat. I know she would love a cat. I get why it’s a terrible idea. But I’m so sad that she can’t have something. I offered her to take my cat for a few days a week she said no.

Are there ANY pet substitutes for PWD/Alz?

She still thinks she’s getting a cat. I have friends who say “how much damage could she do to a cat?” (I immediately imagine the all day calls b/c she can’t find it, thinks it’s hurt, it ran down the hall, etc.)

But I do wish she had something to give her joy. She’s not into music or movies and doesn’t really read anymore (heartbreaking). She has friends (thank god). I wish she wanted my cat - who is literally an angel, affectionate and easy. But she doesn’t.

What can bring ppl with alz/dementia joy?

M1

Unfortunately she could do quite a bit of damage. Overfeeding our cats became an obsession with my partner. There are mechanical cats and dogs available, but they are appropriate for more advanced PWD. It's regrettable certainly, but you are doing the right thing to resist and redirect on this one.

harshedbuzz

What if your cat came for a visit with you? Or if you asked her to babysit her "grandcat" overnight for some reason?

There are the robotic cats. My dad never got into them, but whenever we visited the DON at the MCF to discuss dad my mom (who doesn't have dementia) couldn't keep her hands off them.

One of my dear friend's mom had dementia and lived with her. In the middle stages, she started to "discipline" my friend's cats rather loudly and in German which scared them and meant they never came near her which upset her. Pre-dementia, mom had doted on these girls and may have been their favorite person. I mentioned the robotic cat, but friend thought mom "wasn't quite there yet". My friend's cousin who is a librarian used to come for dinner weekly and days after our conversation, she turned up with a Joy for All cat they'd started lending out. My friend was shocked that her mom glommed onto it. Friend bought one and it really helped settle her mom. YMMV.

Lifelike Robotic Cats for Seniors - Joy for All – Ageless Innovation LLC

HB

MN Chickadee

My mom loved animals and that was a hard change to moving her to MC. I got her a Joy For All cat convinced it wouldn't work because she was not late stage but I was surprised she took to it. They really are quite life like and cute. I would give this a try. If she realizes it is not real just say you thought it was a cute decoration and leave it in her room she may eventually pick it up. Keep kicking the can down the road on adopting a real cat. She could do damage by over feeding, giving it something it should not eat, letting it out etc. It would not be fair the the animal to leave it with a person with diminished judgement. Tell her maybe you can go look in a couple weeks when your schedule settles down etc. Maybe there is a feline flu outbreak at the shelter and they shut down to the public for a few weeks to treat the animals. Whatever settles her down. She will forget about this eventually.

mommyandme (m&m)

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=joy+for+all+companion+pets&crid=1A05SP6HDFPTO&sprefix=Joy+for+%2Caps%2C128&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_2_8

hope that helps

korbkelly

They make animatronic cats/dogs. I saw one when I worked in a nursing home briefly that one of the residents had. It looked just like a real cat...but wasn't. Might be a suitable alternative :)

Anonymousjpl123

Thank you all so much as always. Will definitely keep kicking the can down the road.

Yesterday I reminded her that cats can be destructive and that mine (sweet fur angel though she is) trashed two of my leather dining chairs, thankfully secondhand. She also said she doesn’t want any of my pets, she wants her own.

We put it off each week, which is working fine.

I’m thinking of it because in 2 weeks we see the neurosurgeon about potential NPH. I don’t know what the results will be, but I want to give her a reward.

I had to cut off her Amazon account because she was a shopping addict before dementia and in the last year it got really out of control. It’s so much less stressful now, but shopping was her hobby.

She has 3 close friends where she who also have memory issues, which helps a lot. I just wish she could have something. A robot cat seems amazing to me, but I like others have said can’t imagine her getting into it. That said, you never know.

Thanks for affirming me. I will find something!