My 13 week old kitty going blind =( *Update-Post 31*

[Laura's Babies]

As much as I hate to hear this, blind kitties do fine and after they get use to the house, company does not even realize the cat is blind! I hate to hear tghis little guys is having problems though.

[Catty1]

MCM - it's been pointed out to me that I might have been a bit unclear in my previous post. I meant:

1. Wait and see what the specialist says. If Mowgli needs some treatment, no sense in spending money on a second kitty at the moment. And if Mowgli recovers, he can be on his own. Even without sight, he can be on his own.

2. If you were ever going to get a second kitty, I was teasing that a PT foster parent might be nearby, and you would have a great choice of cuties!

However, I hope you will see Mowgli through this and have him for many years. I think you love that little guy, and he'll be with you for a long time.

[MyCatMowgli]

MCM - it's been pointed out to me that I might have been a bit unclear in my previous post. I meant:

2. If you were ever going to get a second kitty, I was teasing that a PT foster parent might be nearby, and you would have a great choice of cuties!

haha, I was wondering. I thought you wanted me to give him to a PT foster parent!

[catlover4ever]

First let me say that Mowgli is so adorable...that picture of him is too cute.

I'm sorry to hear that he may be loosing his sight, but I want to assure you that if he does I'm 99.9% sure he will get along just fine. I'm the mommie to 2 blind cats (Gracie and Gabriel) and let me tell you that no one can tell that they are blind unless I tell them that they are.

This is Gabriel (aka Dude)


This is sister Gracie (they were both adopted through PT a few years ago)


I was a little scared to take on 2 blind ones but within a day they knew the entire layout of the house, knew where there food and litter was kept and of course immediately knew where I slept at night. They climb their cat trees, play with each other and some of my other cats, occasionally they will bump into something but that is usually my fault for putting something where it's not supposed to be (like shoes on the stairs...they don't know that there there).

G&G can do anything that any other kitty can do (hunt, sleep, play, be adorable) and I'm sure that IF Mowgli should loose his sight.....he will be able to do everything he did before.....maybe even better.....when one looses one of the senses, another sense tends to grow more....G&G can hear a fly 3 rooms away, home in on exactly where it is and go get it for a little snack.

Please keep us posted, please let me know if I can help you in anyway.

[Anikaca77]

I love your to kitties Gracie & Gabriel they are so cute!

First let me say that Mowgli is so adorable...that picture of him is too cute.

I'm sorry to hear that he may be loosing his sight, but I want to assure you that if he does I'm 99.9% sure he will get along just fine. I'm the mommie to 2 blind cats (Gracie and Gabriel) and let me tell you that no one can tell that they are blind unless I tell them that they are.

This is Gabriel (aka Dude)


This is sister Gracie (they were both adopted through PT a few years ago)


I was a little scared to take on 2 blind ones but within a day they knew the entire layout of the house, knew where there food and litter was kept and of course immediately knew where I slept at night. They climb their cat trees, play with each other and some of my other cats, occasionally they will bump into something but that is usually my fault for putting something where it's not supposed to be (like shoes on the stairs...they don't know that there there).

G&G can do anything that any other kitty can do (hunt, sleep, play, be adorable) and I'm sure that IF Mowgli should loose his sight.....he will be able to do everything he did before.....maybe even better.....when one looses one of the senses, another sense tends to grow more....G&G can hear a fly 3 rooms away, home in on exactly where it is and go get it for a little snack.

Please keep us posted, please let me know if I can help you in anyway.

[MyCatMowgli]

Well, Mowglis blood work was normal! Which I guess is good, but the vet suspects that he has juvenile cataracts. So I need to go pick up eye drops to make sure they dont get infected.

Now, here is the part where I need some advice/general info from people who have had experience.

The doctor is suggesting surgery, as soon as possible.

How many of you have gone through this with your cats/kittens? Is it worth it.
The doctor said it is about $3500, which I have absolutely no idea where Im going to find this money considering I am in the process of looking for a job while I type this! Man, I was planning on getting pet insurance too, but I didnt think this type of thing would happen in the first month of ownership of my first pet that is 100% mine!

The Dr. said the other option is eye extraction. Which is alot cheaper, but jeez, Im not going to have his sight removed if I can save it somehow! That is just horrible to think about.

This eye surgeon is supposed to be very good, even completing successful surgery on turtles! I dont know how hard that is, but it sounds hard to me!


So has anyone had this done for their cats?! How did it turn out!?

Im so scared right now, lol.

[CultureJunky]

For some reason I have missed this post, so sorry! I hope Mowgli can have something done about his cataracts. I will keep him in my prayers for you and hope it all works out. I am eagerlyl awaiting to read the advice the others have about his eyes...

[critters]

Why does he want to take the baby's eyes, even if you choose not to have the cataracts removed? That doesn't make any sense to me. Why can't you decide to leave the cataracts alone, like they used to do with human babies with cataracts?

[critters]

Hmmm. I wonder whether it's the lens getting opaque, or the cornea?? Could they have glaucoma?? Most typically in a baby this age it's corneal scarring. I'll be most interested to see what the specialist has to say.

As you've heard, blind kitties do just fine, and if they have even a smidgen of vision they can usually make the most of it. Spunk, my blind punk, prefers to climb up rather than jump, which is the main difference.

I agree with Catty1 about waiting on a companion; get one baby sorted out, then you can consider another if you wish.

[rkidsrcats]

Mowgli is such a cutie pie - we hope you have a diagnosis soon for him.
Just to reassure you about blind cats (and you have received some excellent info so far from PT folk who have blind or sight challenged kitties) this is our Pippin:



He was blind from birth (no eyes) and while I think he enjoys being part of the Tribe of 7, he could easily be happy as a single cat - he is especially attached to CatDad- he is VERY independent, goes where he pleases, chases and plays with his toy mice and is an exceptional track ball player. The photo is of him on the kitchen counter - he climbs like a champ and only occasionally gets stuck and meows for an assist in getting down. We've put in some adaptive ramps up for the cat trees and other fun places he likes to climb and other than that, he requires not special treatment - just lots of love, crunchie treats and preferred spots on the couch, the bed and wherever else he can muscle out one of the other boys. Pippin uses his hearing almost exclusively to navigate around the house and he has memorized where the rugs are on the floors and corners of the walls to help him figure out where he is .
To tell you the truth, we forget most of the time that he can't see. I think if you are considering another cat, I wouldn't do it just because Mowgli may not have his sight some day. I would consider all the other normal things you think about when deciding to get another pet. Will they fit in to your lifestyle right now, will they get along with your Mowgli, can you afford it now....etc. Mowgli is going to exhibit normal cat behaviors and he will adapt to life without full sight - Pippin gets into play fights and sometimes real arguments with his brothers - he is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to the most comfortable spot on the couch or bed and is just a normal cat in every other way except for his sight.

Good luck and we do are hoping all works out for you and your little Mowgli.