My cat can't see.

[Almandine]

I came home today and realised her vision is suddenly very poor. Took her straight to the vet, who said she is blind (but I think she can see a little bit).

She was given tablets to lower her blood pressure (which has apparently caused detached retinas). Hopefully with this medication her sight might improve.

I'm so .

Any advice/ on caring for a blind cat?

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Firstly a large number of these cats do regain some sight. Secondly as long as you don't move the furniture etc and keep them indoors blind cats do really well and learn to jump on regular furniture and live a normal indoor cat life.

[Almandine]

I know the vet said to keep her indoors, but if she can see a bit surely I can let her out a bit? She loves sitting in the garden it would seem cruel to never let her out.

If we do keep her in, how do I let our other cat use the cat flap while keeping her in?

The furniture is always being moved. I have three children who are constantly leaving things on the floor/ moving kitchen chairs. This is so stressful. I had no idea I loved this cat so much.

[oopslateagain]

My elderly Oopscat is virtually blind, has awful cataracts. The vet said she can't see the back of his eyes at all, so he can basically only see shadows and light/dark.

We let him out into the back garden; he never attempts to go any further, but TBH I'm not sure if that's because he can't jump over the fence any more rather than due to his eyesight. He doesn't have any trouble in the house - don't forget cats are very sensitive to movement of air currents over their whiskers, and won't actually bump into things even if they can't see them. Oopscat's biggest problem is when he walks along the sofa and misses a step on the edge and falls off!

Don't forget, losing vision isn't as devastating to an animal as it would be to a person. They don't really understand what has happened, and seem to just accept it and deal with it.

[cozietoesie]

Over the years, very few of my boys have been able to see well when they became elderly but they managed fine and still had excellent quality of life. (The ones in question were all house cats.) We kept to a pretty structured life and environment which worked well for them - but then all cats like that in my experience.

If you want to keep her in and let your other one out via cat flap, you could get a chip cat flap and only program it to the other cat's chip.

[Almandine]

I'm thinking more clearly today. They have infa-red collars, so I can just take hers off if I want to keep her in (I think - or does that just keep her out? )

She could get out today, but didn't go far, and seems to be coping very well, and happy to take her medicine in a bit of cheese spread.

I was so gutted yesterday, I didn't even say goodbye and thank you to the vet. I just stared at the receptionist, in complete shock.

We are going back next week. How often will we have to go back? It cost £46 yesterday, and I'm guessing another consultation and blood pressure check next week (so another £43). How often will I have to pay that? Please, please don't say weekly. Monthly I could just about afford. Just.

[cozietoesie]

Depends what sort of cat flap you have. If it's operated by the collars then taking hers off will mean that she can't operate it - either way.

I can understand that the vet would want to have her there again next week to see right away how she's doing now that she's on new meds but I think it highly unlikely that it will be weekly for ever after. See what he says.

Good luck with her.

[oopslateagain]

Our microchip catflap is only controlled one way: any cat can get out anytime, but only cats with registered microchips can get in.

When Oopscat went on his thyroid medication, he had to go back for blood tests and blood pressure checks every couple of weeks until they were sure he was on the right dosage - I think it was about two months and maybe five visits in all.

[cozietoesie]

Does that apply to all though, oops? I'm sure you can get chip controlled flaps that prevent exit as well if required. (Trying to get my head round two cats here though - maybe that's too complex for the technology available.)

[Otheregos]

My mums cat went blind due to the same as yours, once she got use to it she managed to find her way around the house no problems, she even use to go outside supervised, cats can be surprisingly adaptable at times , please don't worry I'm sure she's coping with it ,probably better than you