Cat going blind?

[wedidntstartthefires]

My lovely old rescue cat is 20 years old this week (not sure exactly as she was a cat not a kitten when I got her 20 years ago).
She has a hazy patch in the centre of her eye, it's been there 18 months, I've taken her to the vets many times and tried many things, but the vet has said basically there's nothing to be fine but remove the eye when it needs it - which would be under ga which would not be advised at her age.

She has also been on meta cam for years and years and years, and as a result hasn't got great kidney function. She will not eat renal food, so she's on senior wet food and cat soup as a treat.

All these things seem manageable, she has changed so much since I had her as a young cat, she's not the same cat, but still seems to have some life, and doesn't seem in pain.

The problem is she has started bumping into things, I'm not sure how good her eye sight is in the other eye. I've pretty much decided not to take her to the vets for annual injections etc as she hates it too much, she is so stressed I think she might have a heart attack, vomit/shit/wee in her basket and the vets is only 1.5 miles away. So I don't want to take her to the vets (she will be pts at home when the time comes) but I feel so guilty there's nothing I can do.

Now I've written this post, I don't know why. None of my friends/family - literally none - have cats so I don't have anyone to talk it through with.

[Allergictoironing]

Wow you've done brilliantly to keep her so well for so long, that's pretty ancient.

My DBro had a cat who went almost completely blind, she could just about see some light from dark and that was it. She soon learned her way about the main room and rarely left it, and carried on for a few more years including the introduction of 2 young cats into the household. They were just very careful never to move any furniture about or leave anything lying about where she might bump into it.

[thecatneuterer]

I've had a number of extremely old cats go blind (I used to take in old cats) and they've all adjusted really well in as little as about two weeks. I wouldn't be considering PTS for that alone.

[Bargebill19]

She will adapt. At 20 (amazing and shows what a brilliant slave you are) to just be losing her eyesight is fab. Really all you can do is reassure her and make sure that you don’t leave anything in her normal pathway. So put shoes away and don’t move the furniture! Leave worktops etc clear for her. She will compensate by using her whiskers and yowling when she needs human assistance.

[wedidntstartthefires]

Thanks everyone, I feel so guilty like there's something I could have done to stop it or to try and make her better.

She's my first cat, and I love her so much, it's difficult to see her declining and her character and habits altering so much.

I got myself a rescue dog because I know one day my cat will leave me and I can't bear the idea of it - she's been my constant for 20 years and given me such pleasure. She has literally been the best cat ever.

I keep arguing with my vet that 20 years is not very old for a cat and she should be aiming for 26 (but I think I've got mixed up with horses!)

Thanks for your comments, it means a lot.

[Bargebill19]

Pets lives are far too short.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

The single most common reason old cats go blind is high blood pressure and with kidney disease this is highly likely. If caught early and medicated some of these cats can regain their eyesight, even if eyesight is not regained controlling blood pressure can dramatically improve quality of life.
So yes I would get her checked and in particular a blood pressure check.