Obsession with his cat
My DH was diagnosed with Alz a year ago, but I was seeing symptoms for at least 3 years prior. He still comes across "ok" to others. Just not able to come up with words alot of the time, but I see much more than this of course.
We have two cats and DH is particularly attached to one. He now seems rather obsessed with it. Always wants to know where the cat is, and asking me where it is if he can't see it. If it meows and isn't visible DH asks me where is she? Often stating that it's acting weird today (but it's really acting the same as always). Has to give me every detail of most of his interactions with her. Etc.
I try to just ignore most of this, but some days it gets to be a bit much. Of course I can't tell him anything about the cat as he always knows more or I'm incorrect (in his opinion).
It's exhausting, but I suppose it's minor compared to everything else that's happening with Alz that we deal with.
I suppose all this is normal with Alz.?
Thanksagain for listening. Appreciate you all.
M
Comments
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It’s normal, yes. And annoying. My husband does that with our aging shepherd. She was always more attached to him and if she’s not laying near him (she loves her spot upstairs) he starts fretting and decides we should just put her down. This upsets me every time and I say it’s not her time yet, she still loved her short walks we take and playing with our younger shepherd. I should make a list titled “things that annoy me” but it would probably be long and sound petty to those who don’t understand. It all accumulates though. Good luck.
8 -
I get both of you. My DH annoying thing (one of them) is saying, “Please!” in a pleading manner. When I ask please what? He goes on a “what” tangent. What, what? As if I asked a question. I know he’s trying to tell me something, I wish I knew what it was. Then it’s, Go!, Go!, Go! I usually load him up in the wheelchair van and Go! It can get maddening.
4 -
My loved one has the same obsession with our cat. He checks for her constantly during the day and night. With the short term memory, he forgets where he finds the cat. This was one of the behaviors that made me realize something was wrong when I pushed for cognition testing.
2 -
@shiawase12
My friend's mom was obsessed with her cats. As her dementia progressed, mom would discipline them by yelling at them in German for things like lying on the floor in the sun or not coming when she called them. Poor things retreated to the upstairs when mom was out and about.
What helped was getting mom a Joy For All robotic cat. She could have it on her lap and interact with it for hours. They are weirdly compelling.
Dad's MCF had a couple of these on hand. I mentioned it to my friend whose niece borrowed one from the library so they could do a trial before spending on one.
HB3 -
I have a similar situation. DH is at times obsessed with the cat. He may go on and on about how old she is and that she is dying. She is 9 years old and has a lot of kitten left in her. He sometimes followers her around and will not go to bed if he doesn't know where she is. Sometimes she falls asleep on his lap. I do my best to keep peace in the house between cat and man.
3 -
I thought it was just my DH…LOL…He became obsessed with the barn swallows who built a nest by our back door this spring. They were about the only thing he talked about for months. Grateful that this was simple.
2 -
Oh yes! We've had several dogs throughout our marriage and they were all great, but this is the first one he's become obsessed with. Our pup is nearly 15 yrs old and when the time comes , DH wants him cremated and put in the coffin with him. He already bought 2 cremation urns with the dog's picture and name.
He constantly has to know where the dog is. I get multiple "poop reports" every day (he went, he didn't go, I don't remember if he went…). The worst thing is that the dog sits with DH in the recliner (he has doggie stairs to get up and down) and when Dh needs to get in or out of the chair, he doesn't want to disturb the dog, so he leaves the leg support up and tries to climb in or out of the chair. He's not too steady these days and in doing this has had many close calls. Of course it doesn't matter what I say or do, so I'm expecting a fall any time now.
BTW, we have currently have two dogs, but he is only obsessed with the older one.
Anyway, while this is a bit weird and I worry about him falling, it mostly makes me smile.
5 -
@Rozieglow I also get pee and poop reports each time my husband walks my GSD. I no longer think anything I read here is weird as most of the time I can relate, for which I’m grateful.
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In a way it's great to hear that others are experiencing this too. "Pee and poop reports ..." have me a chuckle.
Niceto know we're all in this together even though separately.
Appreciate you all taking the time to comment.
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Commonly Used Abbreviations
DH = Dear Husband
DW= Dear Wife, Darling Wife
LO = Loved One
ES = Early Stage
EO = Early Onset
FTD = Frontotemporal Dementia
VD = Vascular Dementia
MC = Memory Care
AL = Assisted Living
POA = Power of Attorney
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