Senior cat confusion and disorientation

I am so confused right now and I need someone to tell me I'm overthinking this. Leo is only one, but he's been acting weird lately. He stares at the wall for like ten minutes then paws at it. Is that dementia? I know he's young but he is a Bengal so maybe they get it early? Mia is four and she's totally fine, just sleeps, but Leo is destroying the doorframe again which is in Leo destroying the doorframe. I just want to know what the early signs are so I can stop panicking.

Hello. I am sorry you are feeling anxious. Leo is very young for cognitive decline. I would look at the physical environment first. My Milo is twelve and has arthritis in his hips. When he started getting confused about where to go, it was actually pain. See Milo suddenly hates his wet food where I discuss how his mobility affected his eating habits. If a cat is in pain, they can act disoriented.

Oh my gosh, I feel your pain! I am so worried about my Coco. She is fourteen and a Persian with hip issues. She does this thing where she stares at empty corners! I thought it was dementia too. Check out my thread Coco staring at empty corners. It turned out to be something else but it was so scary when I first saw it. Are you sure Leo is not just a playful Bengal? They are very energetic.

Short answer: 1 year old is too young for dementia. Ziggy is 6 and he gets lost sometimes. See Ziggy getting lost in the kitchen for what I mean. He just gets distracted by food. If Leo is staring at walls, it might be flies or something on the wall. Check the doorframe he is scratching. Maybe he is just bored.

I read the thread about Ziggy getting lost and it did help a little but I still don't feel better. The wall thing is so specific. He doesn't do it for Mia. Mia is just a calm DSH. Leo is a Bengal mix so he is high maintenance. I tried the scratching post trick from Leo destroying the doorframe but he just ignored it and went back to the door. Is there a specific test I can do at home? I don't want to rush him to the vet if it's just behavior, but I am scared it's the start of something bad.

I work nights so I miss a lot of my cat's behavior. Shadow is 3 and has skin allergies which makes him act crazy sometimes. See Coco staring at empty corners for similar weird behaviors. I think stress plays a huge role. When I am not home, Shadow is fine. When I am home and stressed, he is weird. Leo might just be stressed because you are watching him closely. Try ignoring him for a bit?

Quick question: does Leo have access to the outside? Bengals can get very fixated on birds or bugs. I have Max, a 5 year old siamese, and he used to do this until we put blinds up. Penny, my 3 year old calico, has dental issues so I always check teeth first when they act weird. If the vet clears him physically, it is likely just age/breed energy. What worked for us is written up in my own thread, with the details there, but I don't have it linked here right now.