How fixable is a kitten with a cataract?

[KatyMac]

& how much does it matter if it isn't fixable.

Obviously I'd have to pay to get it fixed as it's a pre-existing condition & I suppose how much that could cost would be relevant

If it isn't fixable will it affect her life much?

Cataracts for people seem easily dealable with but I never met anyone who was born with one

& is a cataract at birth the sign of other more significant problems?

Bump

Hopefully one of the vets will be along soon, it'll be hard to guesstimate though, if its a complex op there will be more variables.

Poor kitten. I wonder if a vet college would treat it for less than a vet in practice?.

Have they confirmed that it was present at birth, Katy? (Or at least as soon as the eyes opened.)

That's what they have said - as soon as she opened her eyes

Poor wee soul.

My 'understanding' is that there can be a number of causes including really poor nutrition or congenital issues but hopefully one of the vets who post will see this thread. Has the kitten been to a vet yet?

Not sure - do you think I should link to the ad or is that unfair?

It really depends on what type of cataract as to whether it is suitable for surgery.cataract surgery (phacoemuslification) is about £2,500 round here as the equipment is very expensive.
I would see a specialist ophthalmologist to see whether treatment is possible or necessary.

Ok without insurance that is so far out of my price range - poor kitty

Her new mummy can't be me

I think it would be unfair on a public board - but that's just me. Does the ad or related background give any suspicion of 'challenging' practice on the part of the breeder? (I'm assuming it's a pedigree kitten at a reduced price ?)

My understanding (although I'd be delighted to be corrected) is that the prognosis for that eye is not good, even with ( hugely expensive ) corrective surgery.

x post. Thanks Lone - and sorry, KatyMac.

If the cataract is of the correct type to be treated cozie there is an excellent prognosis post cataract surgery. It is the if of being the correct type that is big unknown though.

Thanks guys

It's a shame I can't fulfill my need for a cat by taking on an ill or old one - but that's the way it is

Does it have cataracts in both eyes ?

How old is the kitten ? .... removing the cataracts might not actually make any great improvement as congenital cataracts cause the eyes to become lazy, due to the visual processing centres in the brain not receiving clear images and hence not developing properly. In humans if you're going to treat, it has to be very early before the 'laziness' develops. Removing them later on doesn't necessarily make vision sharper, but just 'brighter'. I don't know what the window for neural development is in kittens, but imagine it would be very short. With children you aim to treat by about 3 or 4 latest.

I can only speak from a human perspective, and based on that I wouldn't think that the cataracts alone will actually affect the kitten long term apart from it just being visually impaired. Does it have any other eye problems ? If not, then really it shouldn't be any more expensive taking on this one.

I have a cat with a cataract in one eye. He was a totally feral kitten, found near death (aged about 12/13 weeks) at the side of the road by my ds2; he had got his hindleg claws caught in long grass and in his attempts to free himself had actually bound himself ever closer. It was a hot day and he was dangerously dehydrated. It took me ten minutes to claw through the grass binding him, with my own nails, and we rushed him to the nearest vet.

Vet treated him at cost because of the circumstances, the treatment included antibiotics (which somehow cleared a minor cataract in the other eye) and ultimately hindleg and partial tail amputation, because gangrene had set in. Vet also pointed out that in the clear eye, the pupil is malformed; it's an arch shape, flat at the bottom, rather than a full oval. The cataracted eye remains cataracted.

Nine years later, he's an indoor cat (for various practical reasons, including his outstanding stupidity) who is really quite happy with his life. He pretends to be a frustrated hunter, and happily eats spiders/daddylonglegs who get within his catchzone, and chitters at our swifts and swallows without posing any danger to them.

Does this count as a positive story?

I think I'll have to pass on this kitten; I'm sure she will find a loving home