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Original poster

Aged cat gone blind.

25 replies

GreenShadow · 29/11/2023 12:47

Just that really. He is 17 and has various other health issues (thyroid, growth on neck) but has lost sight first in one eye and now the other.

The vets talk about quality of life and at the moment we THINK he is OK, but whose really to say.
He still eats loads, drinks OK and can find and use his litter tray, so obviously not feeling too bad otherwise. It's just heartbreaking seeing him walk into things.

I guess I'm just after opinions from others whose cats have lost all vision.
Do they adapt? And seem content?
He used to spend ages just looking (at nothing in particular) out of the window and has now lost this enjoyment.

At some point we're obviously have to take the decision that he isn't enjoying life, but at the moment doesn't seem to be in pain, so hopefully not quite there yet.

OP posts:
Original poster
GreenShadow · 29/11/2023 19:49

Bumping...
No one else had a cat go blind?

OP posts:
Pastaf0rbreakfast · 29/11/2023 19:57

I have, and she was okay for a bit. Unfortunately she got run over (poor hearing as well as sight so didn’t move out of the way) so our experience didn’t last very long but we did get to the stage of wondering what her quality of life was becoming. She seemed relatively content but things that hadn’t previously bothered her started to distress her e.g us going away and a friend (well known to her) stayed to look after her.

Sorry that’s probably not very helpful as the decision was taken out of our hands, just wanted to bump the thread a little.

marleymoo12 · 29/11/2023 19:59

Not a cat but I had a dog go blind through diabetes & at first it was awful
Seeing her bumping into everything and she hated going out for walks even though she loved them before she went blind but she quickly went down hill by not eating or drinking and the vet then told us we should get ready to let her go

Candleabra · 29/11/2023 20:01

Aww I’m so sorry. I know it’s hard but i would have to think about letting him go now.

Original poster
GreenShadow · 29/11/2023 20:03

DCat doesn't go out anymore - as he'd got older he was going out less and less anyway, so don't think he misses that.
I think his hearing is probably not what it was either, poor thing.

OP posts:
Original poster
GreenShadow · 29/11/2023 20:04

Just dreading how it will affect DS who has grown up with him

OP posts:
mrshenny · 29/11/2023 20:06

We have a blind cat, she is 8 years old and has gradually lost her sight as we've had her. Never once thought of her not being with us because of it. She finds her litter box and likes to snuggle on the sofa, next to radiator, loves a fuss etc. We don't let her out as she is vulnerable but she's happy enough at home being cosy. She even still can play with toys, we have those little dangling shiny fish, she listens for the sound of the toys as we drag them on the floor and bats at them. We are conscious not to move furniture too much as she does bump into stuff if we do but we try limit it and when we do it doesn't take her long to get her bearing's again.

Octavia64 · 29/11/2023 20:09

I had a blind cat.

He went blind gradually.

He knew where (most of) the furniture in the house was and didn't bump into too many things.

He still went outside but only really to the patio but he loved to sunbathe.

He seemed happy and we were very happy to have him around.

Original poster
GreenShadow · 29/11/2023 20:12

I certainly think he is 'OK' at the moment but we are well aware this may not continue.

OP posts:
mrshenny · 29/11/2023 20:13

I will add though that she came to us with huge pupils at 4 months old so we think she has never seen very well but it's gradually got worse over the years, she used to see toys and lights etc but adapted and hears etc. I can see an older cat of 17 who's suddenly lost their vision could be unhappier overall esp with other health issues.

Really tough one but it's sounds like they have had a long happy life!

SoddingWeddings · 29/11/2023 20:15

My puss went blind aged 13 as a result of such high blood pressure that it caused detached retinas. She also developed kidney disease, and it was all interlinked.

She was quite happy to navigate around the house after a week or two of adjustment as it was quite a sudden event. We only realised something was wrong when she walked off the end of the bed one night and it was apparent she couldn't see the edge of the duvet, so we went to the vets the next day.

We couldn't move things around much as she knew where everything from when she was sighted, and she would bump into things she wasn't familiar with. That led to a few interesting moments with the dog when the cat tried to walk across her face - they were never friends, so there were a few growls in the first week or so, but the dog soon realised something was amiss and in the end she gave up, accepted she'd be a trampoline occasionally and even let the cat share her bed a few times (we thought hell would freeze over before that happened).

She wasn't in pain with the detached retinas, but I dread to think of the headache she must have had before we got her on her blood pressure medication. In the end it was the kidney disease that forced our hand. We had about 9 months between diagnosis and losing her, with a UTI that just wouldn't shift being the final and rather miserable straw for her.

It's sad, and hard to see your loved animals ageing but loss of sight is no longer something I'd worry about if you're happy there's a quality of life for your puss - and for you too.

TamzinGrey · 29/11/2023 20:21

We had an elderly cat who went blind and it was astonishing how well she adapted.
We quickly discovered that it was important not to move furniture, or even rugs around as she used to navigate her way about the house by touching familiar items. She always managed to find her way to her bed, litter tray and food, and we kept a stool next to the sofa so that she could find her way up onto it when she wanted to.
After she lost her sight we stopped letting her go outside unsupervised, but she was still able to spend time lying happily in the garden in the sunshine with one of us nearby.
She lived for another two years until the grand old age of 21 when we had to let her go due to other health issues.
All animals are different, but I would give your boy a bit of time to adapt so that you can see how well he copes before making any final decision.

bellocchild · 29/11/2023 20:22

We kept our old fellow going after his vision went - with hindsight, it was a mistake. We wished we hadn't.

Allergictoironing · 29/11/2023 21:58

DBro had a cat who went blind. She was an indoor only cat anyway, and soon adjusted. They just had to be very careful about moving anything around. She must have been blind 2-3 years before she developed CKD, and lived another 2-3 years after that.

Catsmere · 01/12/2023 21:54

I don't know if it will help, but maybe this article will offer some encouragement?

https://thecatsite.com/c/blind-cats/

Original poster
GreenShadow · 02/12/2023 20:01

Thank you Catsmere. That's interesting to read.
We've agreed that for the moment we're happy to let him go on.
While he eats and drinks well, manages his litter tray and to keep himself clean, he will assume he is reasonably content.
He went upstairs unaided for the first time for a while today (open-tread stairs) to find DS and then sat up there with him for a bit. He did need a bit of help coming downstairs, but I would guess he'll probably get used to that.

OP posts:
Catsmere · 02/12/2023 20:06

You’re welcome, @GreenShadow, I’m glad it was some sort of help. I forgot to mention I did have a cat go blind, but he was 22 and getting very wobbly, and had a stroke not long afterward, so he didn’t have the time or health to adapt to it. Your boy sounds like he’s adapting already!

FreshWinterMorning · 02/12/2023 22:50

I would be tempted to let go now. 17 is a great age for a cat. Can't live a great life as a cat with no sight. JMO sorry. Tough decision I know... Flowers

CeciledeVolangesdeNouveau · 02/12/2023 22:52

I answer this sort of thread more than I feel I should but ask yourself are they purring when stroked? Are they eating and drinking? Are they hiding or running away more often?

Thosepurpleberries · 02/12/2023 22:57

DCat went blind at about 17. Blood pressure medication helped restore some sight be think. He stopped going outside so often but lived till 21, so we have no doubt medication was the right choice. He also had kidney problems and arthritis but was a happy happy soul. We miss him loads and have no regrets.

SoddingWeddings · 02/12/2023 23:10

FreshWinterMorning · 02/12/2023 22:50

I would be tempted to let go now. 17 is a great age for a cat. Can't live a great life as a cat with no sight. JMO sorry. Tough decision I know... Flowers

If you'd bothered to read the thread, you'd see all the people who have had happy blind cats. Sight isn't the only sense they have.

witchypaws · 03/12/2023 01:43

FreshWinterMorning · 02/12/2023 22:50

I would be tempted to let go now. 17 is a great age for a cat. Can't live a great life as a cat with no sight. JMO sorry. Tough decision I know... Flowers

They can. My friends cat lost his sight after being hit by a car. He was treated and recovered in rescue and my friend adopted him
Despite having no sight, he managed to kill a pigeon the other week on the (cat safe fence) roof terrace and then take it to my friend Blush
He also loves playing, cuddling, catnip..

Catsmere · 03/12/2023 01:53

@witchypaws what a mighty cat!

I've seen quite a few rescue stories about blind cats, or cats who've developed cancer in their eyes and had to have them removed, and went on to live full lives. It's nonsense to say blindness = PtS. It's all dependent on the other factors - the cat's general health and how they adapt.

SwedeCaroline · 03/12/2023 02:30

we discovered our cat was blind aged 10. No idea how long he had been blind for, but probably from birth - yes he bumps into things, but has other health issues that we put that down to. He is 15 now, currently snuggled up on my lap purring happily. He has never wanted to go outside

SwedeCaroline · 03/12/2023 02:31

we did know he prefered teasers with a bell on......

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