Complete Care for Your Aging Cat - Amy Shojai [88]
Cloudy lens within the eye
Impaired vision characterized by reduced activity or cautious movements especially in strange surroundings
Treatment
Advanced age is not a reason to forgo the surgery, says Dr. Davidson. “As veterinary ophthalmologists, we do cataract surgery on elderly patients all the time.” Extra care must be taken if the anesthesia would affect other health complications your cat has, but otherwise healthy older cats tend to do well.
Because cataracts typically cause inflammation in the eye, that may need treatment before surgery can take place. Your own vet can prescribe the drops, which can be either steroidal drugs or nonsteroidal, depending on the cat’s situation. “Once the inflammation checks out fine, we schedule the surgery,” says Dr. Gerding.
Cat surgery is the same as human cataract surgery. The process is called phacoemulsification, which is ultrasonic fragmenting of the lens by sound waves, followed by removal of the lens. A hollow needle inserted into the eye sends vibrations into the lens. The pieces are vacuumed out through the needle. Removing the cloudy lens restores sight, but it typically leaves the cat far-sighted unless artificial lenses are placed.
Although the cat won’t ever return to the same visual acuity she had as a youngster, cataract surgery does improve the quality of life. “They do get their vision back so they can play and navigate their area and not run into things,” says Dr. Davidson.
Often, both eyes are involved. “We highly recommend doing both eyes at once,” says Dr. Gerding. That also means the cat only undergoes anesthesia once, and that can reduce the cost of the procedure. Recovery time varies, but most cats remain in the hospital overnight and go home the next morning.
Dr. Davidson cautions that the surgery is not inexpensive, and especially when cats have other health issues, it can have risks. “Cataract surgery is considered an elective surgery. If the owner chooses not to have cataract surgery, it’s not unkind to let the animal live blind.”
Blind cats are still wonderful pets. By making accommodations to keep her safe, your cat can do very well. Routine eye checks on cats with cataracts should be continued, though. Cataracts can lead to other conditions such as inflammation of the eye (uveitis), which can lead to painful glaucoma.
Bottom Line
Cataract surgery typically costs about $1,000 per eye, says Dr. Gerding. “It’s highly recommended to replace their lens with artificial implants, but sometimes you can’t get them in,” he says. “The implants run about $200 each, so if not used, it would be that much less per eye.”
CONSTIPATION
Constipation is the infrequent passage of hard, dry feces. Although straining often is a hallmark of the condition, straining in the litter box can also point to urinary tract blockage or inflammation, and care must be taken not to confuse the two. Watch for “evidence” in the litter box to figure out what’s really happening with your cat.
The colon is designed to contain and eliminate the stool, and to pull moisture out of the waste. When stool stays in the colon for more than two or three days, the feces become so dry and hard it is difficult and painful to pass. That makes the cat even more prone to delay defecation, and the waste turns into a fecal ball that continues to grow bigger, harder, and drier.
Cats can develop constipation at any age, often as a result of hairballs. But older pets are more prone to develop problems because they may have weakened abdominal muscles, and often delay bowel movements due to a reduction in exercise, difficulty accessing the litter box, or obesity that makes it difficult to move. Most cases of constipation are uncomfortable for the cat, but not particularly dangerous unless they go on for several days, or the cat has repeated problems.
“Middle aged to older cats can develop idiopathic megacolon in which their colon just doesn’t contract properly, and basically becomes