Uncle Frank has Alzheimer’s — would getting a pet help him?

One reader wonders whether her loved one would benefit from having a gentle cat companion, while another ponders the absence of bats.

DEAR JOAN: I was reading your story on Catness, the 11-year-old male kitty, and was wondering if he still needs a home, because if he does, my uncle and I would love to adopt him.

My uncle has Alzheimer’s and I think maybe Catness and my Uncle Frank could be good for each other. Please let me know if in fact he’s still needing a forever home.

— Jessica Magilson, Boca Raton, Florida

DEAR JESSICA: Catness, whose owner wasn’t able to care for him any longer, has indeed found a new home with a loving couple. Several people reached out offering to help, and I appreciate you doing the same.

But I would encourage you to look into adopting a cat or dog for Uncle Frank, perhaps looking closer to home. Research has shown that caring for a pet and having a companion to cuddle and interact with can be beneficial for Alzheimer’s patients.

There are a couple of things to be aware of before bringing a pet home. First make sure Uncle Frank wants a pet, and that a dog barking or a cat meowing won’t agitate him.

Will Uncle Frank be solely responsible for the care and feeding of the pet? Depending on how advanced his Alzheimer’s is, he might not be able to take care of the animal. He may need someone else to provide the needed care, including trips to the vet.

My mom had Alzheimer’s, and I know it’s incredibly difficult to be a caregiver, especially knowing the person’s life expectancy is shortened. You need to be realistic, knowing that a pet could very well outlive your loved one. You need to make sure that care for the pet will continue.

On the positive side, pets provide a source of joy to our loved ones. It can help them access their love and empathy. There’s plenty of anecdotal evidence that strongly suggests pets prolong their lives, slow mental decline and make their final days a lot happier, and that’s true for anyone, not just Alzheimer’s patients.

For people who can’t have pets, arranging for someone to bring a pet over for visits can also be beneficial.

Good luck to you and Uncle Frank.

DEAR JOAN: We have a lot of bats around our home. They don’t bother us, and I understand they help reduce the number of mosquitoes in the summer, so we’re glad to have them.

At certain times of the year, we see them almost every night, but at other times, we can go many weeks, maybe months, without seeing them.

Do bats migrate or hibernate during the winter?

— John J., Alamo

DEAR JOHN: You know, I never even considered the possibility that bats migrate, but indeed they do. Or at least most bat species do.

In California, bats return in the spring, some having traveled just a few miles from where they spent the winter, while others return from more than 1,000 miles away. Most young bats that were born before their first migration also return to raise their own families.

Bat populations across the country are in decline, in part because of a deadly fungus that is spreading westward from the East Coast. Wind turbines also kill a number of bats. The rotating blades create a low pressure zone that can cause the bats’ eardrums and lungs to burst.

Animal Life runs on Mondays. Reach Joan Morris at AskJoanMorris@gmail.com.