Found out cats blind

[emmacat]

Today I found out my little best friend is blind. Shes 20 and has been the most affectionate loving cat I've ever known. I feel terrible for not noticing. Vet thinks it has been gradual but didnt make me feel much better. I feel so sad for her.

Not sure why I'm posting really suppose just feeling a bit sorry for myself

I grew up with a blind cat. She developed a retina disease and went totally blind and we didn’t notice for a long time.

As long as you don’t move any furniture and keep her things in the same place, she will be fine, bless her :)

I've had two old cats go blind when they got very old. They both adjusted within a matter of days and after a couple of weeks they seemed completely their normal selves. Try not to worry. She will still have a happy life for the time she has left.

A relative had this happen to her elderly cat. Like you she had not noticed and was upset that she hadn't. You would not have realised the cat had problems as nothing was ever moved in the house, the cat had known the house for years and it was a gradual process. The cat showed no hesitation when moving around the house. There was nothing different in her behaviour. Please don't be upset with yourself. The cat lived several more happy years and never seemed distressed.

Same with one of my DBro's cats, went blind & DSil was beside herself with guilt. But as long as they didn't move the furniture about, the cat was absolutely fine for years. Even coped well through her sister passing away, and 2 new cats being introduced to the house.

you just need to keep her indoors, or with a catio, for safety.

Thanks for all your messages I suppose I just worry she isn't happy. Shes at that age that everything now is such a worry.... shes a spoiled little cat and I cant imagine life without her

Cats are very good at hiding problems. I only noticed Lottie had become blind at 18, when I noticed she was edging her nose along the outside wall trying to find the cat flap. Also, around that time she'd started only eating fish flavoured foods, I guess as the smell is stronger and easier to find.

The vet was surprised when I raised my concerns as she was being seen roughly every three weeks, but I was right.