A video of a pet owner reassuring her nearly 18-year-old senior cat who appears "lost" and "stressed" has captured the hearts of TikTok users.

The clip posted by Auntie Julie – The Pet Sitter (@julienashawaty) has amassed over 849,000 views since it was shared on September 25. The video features Luna, a cat suffering from dementia, and highlights the challenges of caring for an aging pet.

The video opens with a message displayed on the screen saying, "Luna is about to be 18 and sometimes she feels lost, and a lot of time it's when I'm sleeping. The vet says it's dementia as they ruled out all other issues."

Luna is seen sitting on the floor, meowing repeatedly, a behavior the owner explains has become more frequent as the cat's memory deteriorates. The voice behind the camera softly reassures the cat, saying "I love you."

In an article for VCA, the animal hospital chain, veterinarians Ryan Llera and Krista Williams noted that senior cats over 14 years of age are "considered to be "geriatric' and are comparable to humans that are 76-100 years or more."

They explained that senior cats can have cognitive decline and may display similar symptoms as people with dementia, causing many behavioral changes such as the following, as outlined in the article:

• Inappropriate elimination outside the litter box
• Aimless wandering, staring, and crying
• Altered sleep-wake cycles such as night-time waking or increased anxiety, irritability, or restlessness.

Many behavior changes in aging cats can be associated with cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS), where cognitive decline leads to eventual dementia. However, "they may also be associated with other diseases that cats can develop as they age," notes another article from the VCA.

"CDS in dogs and cats is diagnosed by exclusion: all possible medical reasons for the behavior changes need to be ruled out before your veterinarian can be certain that your cat has CDS," the article said.

'This Is What Senior Cat Dementia Looks Like'

A detailed caption shared with the viral post gives viewers insight into Luna's condition and the efforts taken to manage her symptoms. "Hearing your cat scream is the most heartbreaking noise in the world," the poster wrote. "When Luna started screaming like this we went to the vet to rule everything medical out, and they said she's healthy (minus stage two kidney disease), but this is what senior cat dementia looks like."

The post highlights how dementia manifests in Luna, with the elderly cat frequently meowing and becoming disoriented, even in the small apartment she calls home. "She will get lost in our small apartment. She will yell. A LOT. Her memory isn't all there anymore, though we swear she knows exactly what time it is all day long," the caption said.

One of the key points made in the video was the importance of giving senior pets extra care, patience, and love during their later years. "Give your senior cats extra comfort, extra love, extra patience for those 6 a.m. cat screaming sessions," the poster urged in the caption, adding, "and remember that one day you'd give anything to hear these screams again."

In the video, Auntie Julie shares various strategies used to help Luna navigate her dementia. A note overlaid on the clip explains that there is no actual treatment for cat dementia, but keeping Luna's schedule consistent has been a crucial part of her care routine.

"The only thing that matters is that she knows that I'm right here and we talk through it together," another note reads, as the voice in the clip says, "I'm right here baby," in an effort to soothe Luna's meowing.

While there are no treatments for feline dementia, the video mentions that Luna has been prescribed gabapentin, a medication commonly used to treat seizures and chronic pain, to keep her calm when "she's overly stressed." Another note explains that Luna was also given Senilife, a supplement typically used for aging dogs.

In addition to medication, Luna is kept on a specialized diet. According to Auntie Julie, Luna eats an "all-wet food, high-quality diet with a pump of salmon oil to keep her running her best." The combination of supplements, medication, and consistent care helps Luna stay comfortable despite her condition.

"We play with her A LOT," another message in the video explains, emphasizing that keeping her engaged and active is another vital aspect of Luna's care. However, the focus remains on making sure she feels safe and loved. "Mostly we just keep her as comfortable as possible and let her know she's safe and loved beyond measure."

TikTok users were moved by the emotional video, with many leaving heartfelt comments expressing admiration for Auntie Julie's care of Luna.

"Senior cats have my heart, man. I want to open a retirement home for cats," wrote user Hana196476.

Others related to the challenge of hearing a beloved pet in distress. "Those screams are the worst but you do everything you can for them," commented amalthea327.

Many commenters were struck by the way Luna's meowing softened when she recognized her owner's voice. "The way her crying becomes less stressed when she sees you," wrote a user named Squish. Another viewer, underdog007_, echoed this sentiment, adding, "Your voice brings her down. She was stressed but no doubt the sound of your voice has a safe and calming effect on her."

Mavy Wavy & Babies said, "You're the best owner she could possibly ask for."

Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok. This video has not been independently verified.

Do you have heartwarming videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.