Blindness

Cats may be born blind or it may occur as a result of disease, trauma, dietary deficiency due or exposure to certain drugs/toxins. It may occur suddenly or over a period of weeks or months. There are a number of conditions which can lead to blindness in cats including:

• Cataracts (opacity of the lens)
• Glaucoma (increase in fluid pressure in the eyeball)
• Uveitis (inflammation of the inner structures of the eye)
• Retinal diseases
• Tumors
• High blood pressure
• Lead poisoning
• Taurine deficiency
• Portosystemic shunt
• Diabetes
• Roundworms
• Corneal disease
• Untreated eye infections
• Certain medications

Symptoms

 Symptoms include:

• Bumping into walls and furniture
• Unexplained vocalization
• General clumsiness (misjudging when jumping onto furniture)
• Changes to the appearance of the eyes, for example, cloudiness or dilated pupils
• Easily startled
• Cat walking in a crouched position closer to the ground, feeling with the nose and whiskers
• Personality changes may become more fearful or nervous
• Decreased or absent menace reflex, a test in which the veterinarian rapidly approaches the eye with his or fingers to see if the cat blinks

 

Caring For A Blind Cat

Cats adapt extremely well to a loss of vision and can continue to thrive and enjoy a good quality of life. However, precautions must be taken to keep your cat safe and well.

• Blind cats should not be allowed to roam outdoors.
• Avoid moving furniture around, same goes for litter trays and food bowls.
• Avoid startling your cat with sudden noises. Talk to your cat when entering a room.
• Keep the floor clear of clutter.
• Keep high up windows and balconies out of bounds for your blind cat to prevent accidental falls.
• If you do move to a new location, confine the cat to one room initially, and then gradually introduce him to the rest of the house
• Make sure your cat has identification, if he does accidentally get out it will be hard for your cat to find his way home.

Blind cats can live a full and happy life. They adapt well to living without sight and make fantastic pets.

Article from: Cat-World © Copyright 2019