| How to Take Care of a Blind Cat Oct 5th 2012, 20:00 Old age, disease or an injury can sometimes cause your beloved cat to go blind. Although distressing for both you and your cat, this doesn't signal the end of a happy and fulfilling life––indeed, your cat will get used to the new state of affairs and you can do a great deal to ensure that your cat has an easier time of it. - Recognize that your cat has gone blind. In some cases, it will be very obvious to you, such as when you're given a blind kitten from the word go, or when your cat has an accident that harms the eyes. However, when a cat ages, it won't always be obvious to you that your pet's eyesight is fading. Some indicators to help you realize that this might be an issue include:
- Your cat sticks to the walls when moving around, using them as a guide.
- Your cat keeps bumping into things all the time.
- Your cat misses jumps or landings that she used to manage with ease before.
- Your cat is reluctant to venture outdoors––as a cat's eyesight begins to fail, this can be more noticeable to the cat on bright sunny days, or during the darkness of night.
- You might see a bluish tinge or a milky cloud in your cat's eyes if the deterioration is a result of aging (the lens is deteriorating). Sometimes red blood spots will show, and in some cases, the pupils won't react to light (but don't deliberately shine a light in your cat's eyes in case you cause damage––see the vet instead).
- Continue life like nothing has happened. Don't create a special environment just for your blind cat. Keep your cat's stuff as it always has been (with the exception of where doing so would present a danger to the cat). Keep her food dish and water at the same place. Even if your cat is blind, her senses of smell and hearing are still okay. Continue feeding your cat at the same time. Some constructive things you can do to help ease her passage around the house include:
- Keep your house clutter free. This will help to ensure that your cat can walk about safely without toppling over anything, falling on anything or bumping into things.
- Try not to move any furniture. Keep things similar to your cat. If you have to move house, keep her in a safe area away from the removal noise and mess so that she isn't frightened off or ends up bumping into things as they're shifted about.
- Remove any sharp items. If there are sharp corners, objects or any other items that might present a danger to kitty now that she can't see, either remove them or cover them with something soft that will take the impact if she hits it.
- Avoid making loud, sudden noise. If you drop something that makes a racket, be sure to find your cat and try to massage her or soothe her. Call your cat with her name so that you don't freak her out by coming up behind her unawares––a little noise lets her know you're there!
- Make positive noise––hum and chat a lot more around her. This will both alert her to your presence and also comfort her.
- Take into account the increased need for outdoor safety. Try to stay with your cat as much as you can when she ventures outside for the first few times. Things will eventually be okay for her but she does need to learn where problem areas are (like ponds, drops off stairs, holes in the ground, etc.) and by being present as she rediscovers her outdoor world, you can rescue her from any mishaps. Eventually she should make up her own mind about how far she wanders––she might not be as adventuresome as before the blindness.
- Ensure that your cat cannot get out onto a balcony or that it is covered in if she can access it. She won't see her way, so she might fall if she strays too near an uncovered edge.
- Make your cat wear a collar explaining that she is blind. Also, write your phone number and email on it. In the event she gets lost and someone finds her, it will help the rescuer to realize that your cat cannot see and needs extra special help.
- Never let her leave the house alone unless you're absolutely sure she isn't going to wander off somewhere dangerous. She might get lost or hit by a car because she is blind.
- Always close the doors and windows or ensure that the manner in which they're open won't cause risk to your cat. If your cat used to lie on a windowsill while the window was open, she could easily fall out now that she is blind.
- Play with her regularly, as with any cat. Your cat is still normal. Even though she has gone blind, she will still want to do everything that a cat likes to do, like playing. While buying toys, look for cat toys that are made specifically for blind cats. Also, shift from sight-based games to sound-based ones, such as "follow-the-noise". Anything that crinkles, crackles, resounds or can be tapped can serve as a new source of entertainment.
- Try buying toys that make the squeak of a mouse. Your cat might like to be able to follow the noise. Rustling noises are also cool, helping her follow her hearing sense instead.
- Many cats don't get attracted by small toys. Even blind cats might not be that excited by them.
- Train your cat to know where you are by voice. Any cat enjoys taking a walk around a garden or yard. For a blind cat, it might be hard but it's not impossible. Part of the challenge for you is to train her to follow your voice so that you can guide her where to go. Your voice also will make her know whether you are close to or far from her.
- Train a cat to stop walking by using words, like "Stop". Make sure your voice is loud. Have patience––she already knows your voice and now she needs to get used to you using it to direct her. Reward her every time she finds you with lots of petting and a nice treat.
- Search on the internet or even read books for more information about training a blind cat to respond to you. If you feel that you need more help than simple repetition and perseverance, contact a pet or cat trainer.
- Avoid touching your cat's whiskers while training, as she will use them to measure her surroundings.
- Take care of your cat. Groom your cat regularly, feed your cat the right type of food with good amounts and go to a vet regularly for general and eye check-ups. Give special care for your cat's nose and ears, as these senses now make life for your cat easier.
- Brush your cat's fur regularly––she may not be able to see knots but she can still feel them and they're a problem if not removed. Also, the closeness of grooming is good for both of you.
- Clean your cat's ears regularly. Note that cats don't need to clean their nose very often but keep an eye on it in case of obstructions, cuts or mucus build-up. See the vet if you have any concerns.
- While bathing your cat, make sure you use a shampoo made for cats. Any random shampoo might hurt your cat's fur. The amount of water in the bathtub shouldn't be too high––she will be using her sense of touch to gauge the water's level, so keep it low.
- A cat's sense of hearing and smell are more acute than those of a human; thus, in general, a cat can compensate for loss of sight better and faster than a human can.
- Your cat is likely to be less stressed than you about the loss of eyesight––she is not to know it's not "normal". Yesterday she could see, today she cannot. Don't over-anthropomorphize what she is going through––instead, spend your energies on ensuring that her experience of life is enhanced in other ways.
- If you have children, explain to them why it's very important to put away their toys and other items. Stressing that tripping over their stuff could hurt the cat might be the best impetus you've had for years to get them to stay tidy!
- A screened outside enclosure is likely to be more safe for a blind cat than open garden or yard.
- Encourage more climbing to take place of running. She is less likely to bump into something when climbing. Install a vertical climbing post or similar to encourage her. Sisal is a good item to cover the climbing post with.
Edit Warnings - Many cases of total blindness are untreatable.
- A cat with symptoms of failing eyesight should be taken to see a vet immediately.
- Cats fed a wholly vegetarian diet risk turning blind due to the lack of taurine in their food. Sadly, they will also die with a prolonged vegetarian diet.
- A cat with a condition such as diabetes must be checked regularly for signs of oncoming blindness.
- Don't get your blind cat sick.
Edit Things You'll Need - Suitable softeners for sharp corners, etc.
- Grooming gear
- Healthy food
- Regular vet visits
- Climbing post
- Screen for screening off outdoor run
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