Shades of blindness in your cats & mine

[Lizzie]

Surya is about 7 or 8, I believe.

I think I posted about the seizure he had at the vet's office several years ago. He got really upset when he was there to have his eye checked because another cat had smacked him after Surya bit him. He's never had another, which is great. He was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy years ago and that has advanced. No thyroid problem on his blood tests and he eats a very high quality diet so it's an inherited disease. I know the majority of cats with radial hypoplasia live a normal life span, but as my vet warned me some, like Surya, have multiple genetic problems.

This morning he got to do his favorite thing in all the world. He had tucked himself into a jog in the hallway so he is hidden from cats walking down it. Miss Z., my CH cat, came thundering along and her walk is very distinctive in sound of course. Just as she got near the door to the bathroom, out he jumped and over she flipped. He does it with such glee.

[doolittleky]

Well lets hope that he lives a long life and doesn't have any other medical issues that pop up. He is such a dear dear cat! Please let me know how he is doing and if he has any other medical problems when they come up. Do you have any recent pics of him? I would love to see them.

I am glad that lady found a home for that special needs kitten.

[emily_the_spoiled]

I have a combination of some guys who are completely blind versus some with one good eye. I don't have any that seem to make out shadows or specific colours. Unfortunately they still bump into each other and the walls. They have never hurt themselves doing this, but I have found that it has decreased the longer they are here (and I also don't move the furniture). But regardless of whether they see or not, all the guys love hanging out in the windows, bot the fresh air (it is still cool enough to keep them open now) and to hear the sounds of the birds. I have a bird feeder in the fornt yard so there ar always birds, squirrels, and chipmunks hanging around (Cat TV).

One would never guess that they are blind except that they almost always "lead with their nose". My sister who works with disabled children, says that blind kids do exactly the same thing. It is a way of sensing what it ahread.

[Lizzie]

Thank you for the post, Emily, I was hoping you would give input because I know you have had blind and visually impaired cats for years. It does make me feel better that yours still walk into things (you know what I mean!) Surya really loves being out on the deck and will stay out longer than any other cat, but he seems oblivious to the sounds outside, they don't seem to interest him at all. I think he just loves the fresh air and the smells - fresh smells since I live in a very green suburb.

He got his nose put out of joint this morning because the other cats all decided to use his floor beds, ignoring sofas and armchairs. He ambled from bed to bed, stopping dead at each one as he realized there was already another cat there. He can still jump onto a low sofa but prefers something really low. He was fine, though, he also loves the bottom shelf of a credenza I have in the kitchen and he can squeak at me for treats.

I have a combination of some guys who are completely blind versus some with one good eye. I don't have any that seem to make out shadows or specific colours. Unfortunately they still bump into each other and the walls. They have never hurt themselves doing this, but I have found that it has decreased the longer they are here (and I also don't move the furniture). But regardless of whether they see or not, all the guys love hanging out in the windows, bot the fresh air (it is still cool enough to keep them open now) and to hear the sounds of the birds. I have a bird feeder in the fornt yard so there ar always birds, squirrels, and chipmunks hanging around (Cat TV).

One would never guess that they are blind except that they almost always "lead with their nose". My sister who works with disabled children, says that blind kids do exactly the same thing. It is a way of sensing what it ahread.

[emily_the_spoiled]

Some of my guys will just sleep on top of an unwanted friend in their bed If that is where they want to sleep, then it doesn't matter if there is another one in the same bed.

I don't let any of my guys outside (because all my neighbors have BIG dogs), but they do like hanging out by the windows.

I have had blind cats for about 6 years and we have always been in the same house, and every once in a while they still have trouble. But I have never had to take them into the vet for that reason, so all is well.

[moosmom]

Barty, my 15 year old permanent foster (if there is such a thing) has vision problems. I have to literally put the plate of food under his nose and guide his head down. He's such a sweet boy, though. When he's hungry, he'll come tell me then go and sit by his dish like a little gentleman with his tail wrapped around his from paws. How can I fall so in love with a cat??

[catlover4ever]

Gracie and Gabriel both tend to walk into the furniature from time to time, but for the most part they have the floor plans memorized. Gabriel is able to see some shadows (color does not matter) but Gracie is not able to see anything at all but she hears everything really, really well.

Gracie and Gabriel are able to experience the great outdoors when I am outside with them, this way I keep a really good eye on them and they get to smell the fresh air and roll and eat the grass. They love to chase and follow the bees and butterflies. They also think they are going to catch birds but they have never come even close.

[Lizzie]

Barty, my 15 year old permanent foster (if there is such a thing) has vision problems. I have to literally put the plate of food under his nose and guide his head down. He's such a sweet boy, though. When he's hungry, he'll come tell me then go and sit by his dish like a little gentleman with his tail wrapped around his from paws. How can I fall so in love with a cat??

He sounds like a sweetheart of a cat. I have to put the food very close to Surya's nose also.

Most of my fosters are permanent, some because they are hospice and others because they are considered unadoptable and become ill when in a shelter environment. It can work out well when you are given fosters like your Barty because you can enjoy them while not having to worry about the costs of vet care.