Coping With Blind Cat

[237SJ]

Over the last week I have suspected that my cat`s eyesight has failed. She is aware of a little bit (possibly due to light) but it`s obvious that something is wrong. Anyway, it turns out that she has two detached retinas, probably caused by high blood pressure. The vet said that it happens suddenly which is why I only noticed it when I came back from work a week ago. I looked on here and there were some comments from people who`s cats showed exactly the same symptoms as mine (howling due to disorientation etc). I just wondered if anyone has any experience of looking after a blind cat and has any tips to share. I`m going out but will look in again tonight. Thanks

[Fitzer]

We had a cat who went blind in similar circumstances to yours, he had been a very adventurous (neutered) tom who was off out most of the day. He took to being essentially a house cat quite well, it's important not to move furniture etc. from the places where it has always been but apart from that we did nothing special. He was definitely in the latter part of his life and was slowing down anyway but looked years younger than his actual age (16 at the time). We have a garden with a fence all round and a close fitting gate so we would let him out with one of us with him when it was nice and he would patrol around seemingly quite happy. He lived until 18 when he died of suspected liver failure and in those 2 years seemed to cope very well. Best of luck with yours.

[rsvp]

237sj - sorry to hear about your cat - I had a blind dog for many years and one of the things I did was to put a different herb by her water bowl, basket or special chair etc. Also a knobbly rug by steps or stairs which she soon cottoned onto - I did this while she still had a small amount of sight and she was very confident moving around the house. It taught me not to leave anything at all on the floor - I used to be terrible for leaving shoes and newspapers lying about but not any more. Obviously don't move furniture and if poss either always close doors or always leave them open. She'll be fine with you looking out for her.

[237SJ]

Thanks for the replies. Putting herbs in strategic places is a good idea - I might put some catnip on the settee and around my bed to comfort her. She seems to be getting around the house alright and last night I heard her go out and come in via the cat flap. She can make it up the stairs to my bedroom as well. She became deaf a while ago and the one thing that worries me is that she could be vulnerable to urban foxes. It also bothers me when she howls when she is at the bottom of the stairs although she seems to sort herself out eventually and manages to figure out where she is. I guess we will both have to get used to our 'new normal'

[JRB]

My cat was definitely an indoor cat until the last year or so of her life (around 18 years) when she suddenly became Dora the Explorer and spent quite a lot of time outdoors. As she was pretty well blind by this time it was a worry that she would lose her way and be unable to get back inside so I used to watch her and call her to give her a focus to aim for. However on a couple of occasions, when I had not noticed her disappear into the garden, she seemed to find her own way back and I saw that she used her whiskers as a sort of "radar" to locate walls, steps etc. She was extremely efficient at this and it meant that she was able to enjoy the last summer of her life, going in and out at will.