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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

The litter tray

I think she's gone blind

20 replies

magicstar1 · 13/06/2016 15:35

My poor cat seems to have gone blind, or almost. I had her at the vet a couple of weeks ago where she was diagnosed with a heart murmur and arthritis. She's been put on aspirin to prevent blood clots. I told the vet that I was worried about her eyes...she just seemed to be not seeing me clearly. A few little signs that didn't add up. He couldn't find anything though.
She sleeps outside, and when I went out to her today I stood right in front of her waving and she didn't notice. She's also very hesitant walking and doesn't see obstacles.
DH is at the doctors now, so I'll hopefully get her to the vet tonight, but does anyone have experience of this? I'm so upset for her

OP posts:

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cozietoesie · 13/06/2016 15:42

My own lad had very little sight left, I reckon - he has no visible signs like cataracts, and can see a little darkness and light I think - but other than that? Who can tell? With him, there's a breed disposition to problems but he's also very old.

They frequently manage very well indeed with no sight. Is it going to be easy for you to keep things 'much the same' around the house and do you talk to her a lot?

cozietoesie · 13/06/2016 15:44

PS - how would she react if you brought her inside now? (If her sight's in question, I think you should.)

magicstar1 · 13/06/2016 15:48

I talk to her all the time, and she is reacting to my voice. Unfortunately we're in the middle of demolishing the kitchen, so she can't find her way around it easily.
I brought her in earlier, and she just wanted to get back outside. Her bed is right at the back door and it's all sheltered...she's just sleeping all day and seems happier there.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 13/06/2016 16:07

Achh. It's what she knows, I guess. PITA that you're doing the kitchen right now - but Hey Ho. How old is she again?

Let us know how she gets on at the vets.

BikeRunSki · 13/06/2016 16:15

Our old boy was much the same, with the arthritis, pain killers etc. I'm pretty sure he'd lost a lot of sight in the months before he died last year. He became a very indoorsy cat (having been very outdoorsy), but I think that was largely down to arthritis too. He developed his own coping mechanisms really, but had a stroke a few months after I thought he'd begun to lose his sight.

MrsRonBurgundy · 13/06/2016 16:16

My cat went blind overnight unfortunately. She was walking around the house very hesitantly and jumped when I touched her and then wasn't pushing up against my hand when I held it down (which she did nearly every time without fail).
We got our lovely vet to come to us as she really hated the car and I didn't want to cause undue stress.

The vet could see a 'mass' behind her eyes and also felt a large lump on her stomach when checking her over (we hadn't noticed this as you nearly lost your hand if you dared touch her stomach!). She also thought she was in pain from her reactions to being handled. The vets recommendation was for her to be put to sleep unfortunately. She was an older girl at 16 (although I know not the oldest) and she had gone deaf a year earlier. We took the vets advice and it was heartbreaking but the right decision.

If your cat seems ok other than the sight I wouldn't worry too much just yet. They can cope very well when they lose a sense! When my lovely cat went deaf she coped fine. I didn't allow her outside any more as she wouldn't have heard cars coming but she was happy inside, the sofa was her favourite place anyway!

cozietoesie · 13/06/2016 16:37

Sadly, it doesn't sound as if you had much choice, MrsRon.

MrsRonBurgundy · 13/06/2016 16:42

No we didn't really. If she'd not been in pain we'd have tried anything but I couldn't bear her being hurt and confused too.

OP - let us know how you get on at the vets. Hopefully she's fine if she wanted to go back out exploring once you'd got her in!

magicstar1 · 13/06/2016 17:48

DH had just been told he's diabetic so not sure if we'll make it up to the vet tonight.
I went out to her and she's happy in her bed...she seems to have a little bit of sight - probably shadows etc.
We don't know exactly how old she is, when we bought our house last year the previous owner took his dog but left her behind. Talking to neighbours we think she's about twelve.
Thanks for your stories...I'll keep you updated.

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magicstar1 · 18/06/2016 15:15

Just a quick update. The vet said it doesn't look good at all. She's totally blind and because of her age and the fact she's mainly an outdoor car, he thinks it might be her time. They're keeping her in for a few days and treating her with steroids, but he doesnt hold out much hope.
I'm totally devastated

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Vixster99 · 18/06/2016 17:09

I had a cat who went blind at 16 years old. Must have come on gradually & he adapted quite well. So much that I didn't notice until one day I found him walking in circles under the dining table, bumping into each leg in turn.
The vet couldn't find any real reason except that his kidneys were failing.
He was an indoor cat so I made sure he knew where his bed, food & litter were, and made a point not to move any of the furniture etc so he wouldn't get confused. I had to pick him up for a cuddle as he couldn't see the settee to jump onto my lap.
But he seemed quite happy in himself & was eating well etc etc.
A couple of months later he went into a rapid decline over a weekend - total kidney failure.

That was 10 years ago & I still miss him dreadfully.

MrsRonBurgundy · 18/06/2016 17:10

magic I am so sorry to hear that. How upsetting.

I hope the steroids do the trick for her. Fingers crossed for you

RubbishMantra · 19/06/2016 02:03

Sorry for asking, are you the same poster who took on DCat with the house, and the previous tenant said she was happier outside, and made her live in the garden?

If so, thank Christ she has you.

magicstar1 · 19/06/2016 23:50

Yes, that was me. She's been spending most of her time in with us, but always preferred sleeping outside We have the side entrance roofed over and she has a bed with a king size duvet .
Now she won't stay in, just prefers to go straight back to her safe bed.
I'm so dreading tomorrow , she's become such a part of the family

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cozietoesie · 20/06/2016 00:09

Let us know how it goes. Take care.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 20/06/2016 06:54

Thinking of you today

magicstar1 · 21/06/2016 09:28

She's gone .
We went up yesterday to visit her and have a chat with the vet...he said her eye problems were irreversible, and she was older than we thought, so the kindest thing would be to put her to sleep.
She knew me straight away, and he let me hold her for the end.
I'm so, so sad for her, and feel like I've let her down, even though it would have been cruel to bring her home. She was scared and confused by not seeing.
I'm just glad we had the last year together.

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cozietoesie · 21/06/2016 09:57

I'm so sorry.

And no way did you 'let her down' - you gave her a fine sunset time and then a dignified and peaceful end. Hard on you but the right and loving thing to do for her.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 21/06/2016 10:07

I'm so sorry.

I can't add anything else because Cozie has said it perfectly.

TroysMammy · 21/06/2016 14:07

I'm so sorry

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