Content
- How to tell if the cat is blind
- Advice for a blind cat
- Adapt the house to your blind cat
- security outside the home
- Care for an elderly blind cat
blindness is the partial or total loss of vision, may be due to a congenital or acquired cause after trauma, or an illness such as high blood pressure, cataracts or glaucoma. If you have a blind-born kitten or your old furry companion has lost his sight, it will be stressful at first for you and your cat.
However, you should know that blindness should not prevent your cat from living a happy and adventurous life. Cats are beings with resilience, that is, they are able to adapt to difficult and even traumatizing situations. If we help to do the right things home adaptations to make your life easier and give you the necessary care, your cat will adapt to have a happy life.
In this article by the Animal Expert, we'll give you some advice about care for a blind cat.
How to tell if the cat is blind
A cat with blindness problems may have inflamed, discolored eyes with some opacity, their pupils are big and don't contract when they receive light. If your cat is blind or is losing part of its vision, it can be easily startled or confused after a piece of furniture has been moved around the house, or even tripping and hit a piece of furniture. If you see any of these signs, take the feline to the vet to determine for sure whether your cat is blind or not.
In some cases, blindness can be reversible, but if it's irreversible blindness, you can help: a cat has a much more developed sense of hearing and smell than a human and can compensate for a loss of vision.
If it's acquired blindness that has suddenly appeared, your cat may need a few weeks to adjust to her new life.
Advice for a blind cat
- THE oral communication between you and your cat becomes paramount when he loses his sight: talk to your furry friend often and call him more than before so he can find you at home through your voice. When you arrive in a room, try to walk making noise so that your cat knows you are entering and avoid scaring him.
- keep one peaceful environment: avoid yelling or slamming doors at home, this would scare your cat more than before and you should avoid stressing your cat, especially in its adjustment period to its new life.
- play with your cat and stimulate your other senses: you can provide toys that give off a smell, rattle or make noise, this type of toy usually appeals to a blind cat.
- Pampering: be sure to pay him attention and the pampering you used to give him. The caresses and moments with you will be even more pleasant than before, try to spend more time with your cat, but respect his independence and let him go when he shows you that he's had enough.
Adapt the house to your blind cat
- avoid the changes: The first thing to avoid is making changes to the house and moving the furniture. Your cat needs some stability to recognize its environment, as it doesn't need the arrangement of objects in the house to change in order not to lose its reference points.
- Keep your references: Always put your food and water in the same place so he knows where to find them. Moving them can be a source of stress for your cat.
- your sandbox: If your cat has suddenly gone blind, you will have to teach him again: you put him on his litter tray and let him find his way from there to your bed, so he can memorize where the box is. You may need to add another tray in the house if it is large or if it has several floors.
- Safety: close the passage of stairs to prevent your cat from falling or climbing, if you have access to a balcony or window, as it will not be able to perceive the height and the fall can be fatal.
- Think about the smallest details: how to always lower the toilet lid. If the cat doesn't see, it's best to avoid this kind of bad experience that can even be dangerous.
- avoid leaving objects on the floor of the house: your cat may trip or get scared and get lost in the house.
security outside the home
A blind cat should not be outdoors unsupervised: it should only be indoors or have access to a secure and closed garden with fences. If you can't keep an eye on him outside, it's best to keep him indoors.
It's especially important for your cat to carry a chip if he's blind, so if he's lost and someone finds him, a veterinarian can read the microchip and get in touch with you.
Care for an elderly blind cat
Taking care of a blind cat is tricky at first, but it can be done with patience and a lot of affection. We recommend that you also find out about caring for an elderly cat, if that is the case. Remember that older cats should be treated much more carefully and diligently.
You may still be interested in knowing why your cat meows, an essential question to strengthen your relationship at this delicate time and learn to communicate better.
