The short answer
If a pet is important to someone living with dementia, agree which care tasks they want to keep doing, pair them with familiar routines and arrange specific backup help. Plan ahead for changes while keeping the person involved and the animal's needs in view.
- Ask which parts of pet care the person wants to continue doing.
- Pair feeding, walks or letting a pet out with an established daily cue.
- Agree with a trusted helper who can cover a specific task when needed.
- Plan for future pet care early, while the person can share their wishes.
On this page (5 sections)
A pet may be part of a person’s daily rhythm and family life. Feeding, walking or simply sitting with an animal can also be an activity the person wants to keep doing. Dementia may make some tasks harder, but that does not mean someone else should automatically take over.
The Alzheimer’s Society’s pet-care guidance recommends planning for pet care early and using routines or reminders. Dementia Australia’s activity guidance includes pets among activities that may be meaningful. The aim here is practical support for the person and the animal, not a claim that pets treat dementia.
How do we make a pet-care routine easier?
Start by asking the person which jobs they enjoy and want to keep. One person may like feeding a cat but not cleaning a litter box; another may want to walk a dog with a family member. Keep the plan specific to the person, the pet and the support available.
- Pair care with an existing routine. Put food out after breakfast, check the water bowl when making tea, or walk the dog after a familiar radio program. A cue that already belongs to the day may be easier to follow than a new schedule.
- Keep supplies in one familiar place. Store the pet’s food, lead or brush together where the person expects them, while keeping heavy items or chemicals safely arranged. A simple label or note can help if the person wants one.
- Make one reminder visible. A short note beside the pet supplies or a calendar entry may be enough. Avoid filling the home with reminders that make the person feel watched or corrected.
- Leave time for the task. A walk or feeding routine may take longer than it once did. Do not hurry the person through it if they are enjoying the time together.
If several people share pet care, use a short list to show who is handling each task that day. Keep it near the supplies or use a reminder the person already likes. Avoid creating extra alarms or notes when one clear cue is enough.
The daily routine guide has more ideas for pairing an activity with a familiar part of the day.
What help can family or friends offer?
Offer a concrete task rather than a general promise. A friend could pick up pet food each month, a neighbor could join a walk, or a family member could go to a veterinary appointment. If the person wants to keep feeding or brushing the pet, arrange help around that role instead of removing it.
Agree who will help if the usual caregiver is away or the person is unwell. Tell that helper where supplies are, what routine the person prefers and who to contact if the pet seems sick. Check that the helper is comfortable with the animal and that the animal is comfortable with them.
If the person has support from a care provider, ask how pet care can fit into visits. Permission and household rules matter: do not assume a paid caregiver can walk, feed or handle an animal as part of their role. Agree on the task with the person, provider and family member who is responsible for the pet.
How can we tell when more support is needed?
Notice specific events instead of judging the person by a stage or a score. A bowl that repeatedly stays empty, a missed walk that leaves the pet distressed, or a person who seems worn out after caring for the animal may signal that one task needs more support. A change in the pet’s behavior, appetite or appearance is also a reason to contact its veterinarian.
Talk with the person about what they have noticed. They may welcome a reminder, a shared walk or a helper for one task while keeping the rest of the routine. If a health, mobility or safety concern affects the person’s ability to care for the animal, ask their care team or a local support service to help work out options.
Do not wait until a crisis to think about backup care. The guide to living alone with dementia includes ways to agree on check-ins and practical help while keeping the person’s choices central.
How should we plan for changes in the future?
Ask the person who they would trust to care for the pet if they were in hospital, away from home or no longer able to do a particular task. Write down the pet’s usual routine, food, veterinarian’s contact details and the people who have agreed to help. Keep the information somewhere the person and trusted helpers can find it, with the person’s permission.
The plan may change over time. Review it when the person’s routine, mobility or support changes, or if the pet’s needs change. If a move becomes necessary, involve the person in deciding where the pet will live and how they can remain in contact when that is practical. Planning early gives everyone more time to consider options that protect both the person’s wishes and the animal’s care.
What if a pet visit or activity is not comfortable?
Let the person and the animal set the pace. Offer time together only if both seem comfortable. A short visit, sitting nearby or looking at a photo of the pet may be enough. Stop if the person becomes uneasy, the animal tries to move away or the animal seems stressed. The site’s activity ideas include other familiar ways to spend time together.
Common questions
Should I take over caring for a person's pet?
Not automatically. Ask which tasks the person wants to keep doing and where help would be welcome. Agree on one specific change at a time, and keep checking whether it works for both the person and the pet.
How can we help someone remember pet-care tasks?
Pair a task with a familiar routine, such as checking food after breakfast, and use a simple reminder in a place the person sees. Decide together who will step in if a task is missed.
What if pet care is becoming difficult?
Look for specific changes, such as missed meals, tiring walks or a change in the pet's behavior. Talk with the person and their veterinarian, then arrange practical help that fits their wishes.
Should we plan for the pet's future care?
Yes. While the person can take part, discuss who they would trust to help if they become ill, travel or move. Write down the plan and tell the people who have agreed to help.
Sources
We link to the organizations and studies this page relies on. Each was checked when the page was updated.
- How can you plan for your pet's care after you've been diagnosed with dementia? · Alzheimer's Society
- Activities for people with dementia · Dementia Australia