Complete Care for Your Aging Cat - Amy Shojai [75]
Even if the cat loses vision, the owners typically aren’t aware of it—at least not at first. “They can be down to their last bit of vision, and in their own home they compensate very well,” says Dr. Gerding. Blind cats remember the layout of the house, and rely on sound and scent landmarks to get around. Vision loss typically causes problems when they’re in unfamiliar surroundings. Owners may suddenly realize there’s a problem if they rearrange the furniture, for example.
Catching vision loss in the earliest stages has the best chance of preserving the cat’s sight. Specific drug treatments and sometimes surgery are available for glaucoma and cataracts, discussed further in the chapters on those topics. Eye infections and inflammation may also respond to prompt medication.
Similarly, cats suffering from kidney or heart disease often benefit from anti-hypertensive drugs, says Dr. Gerding. “If you catch it early and treat it medically you may catch it before the retina completely detaches, or it may reattach so there’s still some viable vision afterwards.”
Senior Symptoms
“Usually you’ll see vision loss in an unfamiliar environment. They’ll have memorized their own home or yard if they’ve been there the last 5 to 10 years,” says Dr. Gerding. Symptoms of vision loss are therefore noticed more in an unfamiliar environment. “Cats to tend to become a little more withdrawn if they lose their vision,” he says. Look for these signs:
The cat hides, and her activity level decreases.
Shows reluctance to navigate stairs or jumps, especially in unfamiliar places
Becomes clingy
Bites when touched unexpectedly
Moves more slowly and cautiously
Pupil of eye stays dilated
Accommodations
When blindness due to disease or injury can’t be reversed, you need to adjust your cat’s environment to help her better cope in a sightless world. Blind pets compensate for the loss by relying more on other senses, and won’t be nearly as concerned about the deficit as the owners, says Harriet Davidson, DVM, an ophthalmologist at Michigan Veterinary Specialists.
Cats prefer the status quo anyway, and this becomes even more important when they can no longer see. Don’t rearrange the furniture. Keep things in the same place so the cat can map the house, and doesn’t become disoriented. “Keep their food, water bowl and bed always in the same spot so the animal knows where his things are at all times,” says Dr. Davidson. Cats don’t tend to run into objects, but they may decide to stop moving altogether in a strange landscape.
“The animal’s behavior will change somewhat in that they will sometimes become more dependent on the owner,” says Dr. Davidson. “They tend to stand very close and follow you around more.” That can be a problem especially for elderly owners if the cat stays underfoot and causes falls. To counter this tendency, try providing a safe, cat-friendly retreat such as a bed or cat tree in each room.
Cats that have always loved to be the center of attention may become reserved once vision is lost, especially when guests visit. That’s only natural, says Dr. Davidson. The cat’s sense of self-preservation keeps her out of harm’s way—under the bed—instead of beneath the feet of guests where she might be stepped on.
As long as the environment stays the same, blind felines become adept at compensating and may still be able to accurately judge well-known leaps simply by memory. But take care to block off danger zones, such as the basement stairway, to protect your blind cat from an accidental fall. If you