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At cataracts are a frequent eye problem in cats, especially as they get older. A cataract is a condition that consists of a change and a loss of transparency of the lens or intraocular lens that makes vision difficult.
Although some cats show no signs of decreased vision, especially if only one eye is affected, in most advanced cases, cats have vision impairments that can progress to blindness. Sometimes cataracts can be irritating and painful.
To be able to recognize a cataract in your cat we will explain in this article by PeritoAnimal the Symptoms and Treatment of Cataracts in Cats.
Symptoms of Cataracts in Cats
If your cat suffers from cataracts, the main symptom you will notice is a bluish gray spot when looking at your cat's pupil. It is opaque stain it may remain small or increase in size over time. Sometimes cataracts evolve quickly and cover the entire pupil, it is common to see vision loss as a consequence of the opacity of the lens.
Deterioration of vision can be variable and the symptoms you may see are as follows:
- Unusually high steps.
- Abnormal walking.
- Insecurity when walking.
- Stumbles over familiar objects.
- Miscalculates distances.
- Does not recognize familiar people.
- His eyes are abnormally moist.
- Color change in your eyes.
- Change in pupil size or shape.
Cataracts can develop in just one eye or both. many cataracts are congenital, that is, they are present from the birth of the cat.
A flowing nasal discharge that may be cloudy or clear may appear. This discharge actually comes from the eye, this is especially when the cause of the cataract is an infection, when the cataracts are caused by an underlying infection.
Treatment of cataracts in cats
One early diagnosis is decisive for treating the primary causes and stopping cataracts from advancing whether in puppies or adult cats:
- Cataracts that affect kittens may spontaneously improve and may not need treatment.
- Cataracts in adults that have a slight opacity and do not alter the cat's vision do not necessarily need treatment.
However, in these cases, anti-inflammatory eye drops can increase the cat's comfort. There are also cataracts that are caused by food shortages, the evolution and worsening of these cataracts can be stopped by balanced diet and food supplementation.
For cats with deteriorating vision, surgical resection of the affected lens it's the only really effective treatment. Then it is replaced by an artificial lens, if an artificial lens is not implanted the cat will only be able to see from a distance and very poorly.
The prognosis is best when surgery is performed early in the course of cataract development, and the veterinarian will make sure the cat is healthy before operating.
This surgery must be performed by a veterinarian specializing in ophthalmology and their high cost makes many owners decide that it is not necessary as their cats can adapt to their environment even with their loss of vision. Effectively our feline friends use their sense of smell for most of their activities, and originally they don't have very good eyesight. Still, for your safety and well-being, cats with partial or complete loss of vision should be kept indoors.
If an owner decides not to operate their cat for cataract they should ensure frequent follow-up by the veterinarian to monitor the progression of the cataract.
Upon losing sight, there comes a point where the cat may suffer pain, and then it may be better to surgically remove the affected eye to prevent our four-legged friend from having unnecessary pain.
In addition to these tips, at PeritoAnimal we have other recommendations that may interest you, such as cleaning a cat's eyes, home remedies for cat flu and cutting a cat's nails.
Don't forget to comment if you have advice or recommendations for other readers who also have a cat with cataracts
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.