A few months ago my cat had an operation on his ear and ended up having to wear a cone collar for 5 weeks and was so depressed, hes always been a normal, good natured pet, but since the recovery, hes a bad mooded so-and-so, hes scratched the arm of my sofa (new one!) .... wont tollorate any disturbance .... attacks the dog on a regular basis (the dogs well and truely in her place) .... and recently started to eat his cat litter??

He's 19 yrs old and started to turn his nose up at all food, I've even taken to buying him a chicken, roasting it and feeding him that ... alternating with fresh tuna, but whats with the cat litter? (yes, its clean litter daily)

My previous dog died aged 14, and im sure he was going a little do-lally towards the end, is it possible for pets to get dementia? could this be the reason for his eating clean litter?

Cats can get dementia, we've had them in the cattery.

did any of those take to munching on litter?

Are the gums pale?

I don't think the litter eating is a mental issue (though it sonds nutty) - Your cat could well be anaemic, the litter has minerals hence the urge to eat it, but its not good to be eaten as obviously the dangers of eatng hard bits and obstructions in the digestive system, but also the clay content will absorb other essential nutrients.

Puss needs a trip to the vet and a blood test for anaemia.

I'm sorry but I agree with Squiggs, it sounds to me like your cat is ill or in some pain, bless him I hope it's nothing much and that his good nature is soon restored.

nope, no medical reason at all, like i say, hes just had an operation .... and the blood tests to see if all is ok internally, gums are fine, tested for anemia 3 weeks ago, I use the BoB Martin litter (looks like clear crystals).
Its not just the litter ..... its a lot of very strange behaviour, hes declaired war on the toilet every time it flushes (never bothered him before) ... Insists on sleeping on the dining table ... NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I MOVE HIM (annoys the hell out of me!).

Since writing the original message, hes not bothered with the litter .... hes onto grapes (stealing them from the fruit bowl) then spitting them out on the floor, and when i talk to him, he look at me like a stranger at times.

Sadly i think this is the start of the end, Ive noticed he's looking 'scraggy' ... which has come on in the last month or so, losing weight and acting like a grumpy old man in the throws of denemtia, hes going for a check up next week so i'll see what she makes of it,

How's your cat? Is he still behaving strangely, and what did the vet say.

I hope he's alright.