Blindness in Cats

If you are looking for some answers about blindness in cats, the following article will help you understand this sad disorder in our feline friends.

Cats have powerful sense of vision, that is better than the 20/20 vision in humans. Cats have beautiful eyes that are mysterious and intriguing. The first thing that will catch your attention about a cat are its eyes. There eyes are larger than the size of their head. Cats have a great peripheral vision that helps it capture each moment literally in the 'blink of an eye'. You can get lost in these mesmerizing pools of green, blue, yellow, etc. that makes the cat so majestic and royal.

But, these beautiful eyes are prone to many disorders and eye problems. These problems can lead to partial or complete blindness of these powerful vision apparatus. Blindness in cats may not happen instantly and occur gradually over time. Many cat owners are not even aware their proud feline is turning blind. Blindness in cats can be reversible or permanent, partial or complete. Let us go into the details of what causes blindness in cats.

What Causes Blindness in Cats

There are a few causes of blindness in cats, that may lead to partial or totally loss of sight. These causes of blindness in cats are:

Cataracts: Cats too develop cataracts in their eyes. It is a condition in which the eye lends turns opaque. This is generally due to an eye injury, diabetes or a genetic problem. You can treat cataract in your cat, with the help of surgery and many times lens implants help in correcting the vision.

Glaucoma: A tumor, injury or any other hereditary disease may cause excessive pressure in the eye, which may lead to glaucoma. This is one of the major causes of blindness in cats. The vet may treat the glaucoma by reducing the intraocular pressure. In advanced stages, surgery may be advised.

Tumors: Tumors on the eye like Iris Melanoma, tumors of the eyelid, etc, may lead to blindness of the eyes. Many times it is necessary to surgically remove the eye. The vet may insert a prosthesis to maintain a normal look of the eye.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy: This is one untreatable condition that is most probably an inherited disease. It is a very slow acting disease in which the cat turns blind completely gradually. Because of the slow progress of the disease, the cats learn to cope up with the gradual decreasing ability to see and can learn to live without begin able to see.

Feline Hypertension: Cats with kidney diseases and diabetes are prone to hypertension. You need to consult a vet for detection of hypertension and watch out for bloodshot eyes and unresponsive pupils. Hypertension can lead to detachment of the retina due to the overactive thyroid gland or kidney disease. There is no specific treatment for feline hypertension, but keep your cat on a low sodium diet.

Conjunctivitis: This is an infection that leads to redness of the inner eyelid, that is swollen and itcy. Though conjunctivitis does not lead to blindness, but recurring infection can lead to vision deterioration. The vet may administer medications in form of eye drops or oral drugs, depending on the cause of infection, bacterial or viral.

There are other causes of blindness in cats that include

Injury

Degeneration of Retina

Dry eye due to feline herpes virus

Neoplasia that involves occipital cortex

Hypoxia that results in permanent brain injury

Congenital underdevelopment of the optic nerves

Encephalitis, menigoencephalitis

Chorioretinitis

It is very important to carry out correct diagnosis, as the treatment will be based upon it. Many times blindness is a result of underlying disorders or diseases that have a major effect on cat health. Sudden blindness in cats is due to hypertension, thyroid disorders, kidney diseases, blood glucose disorders, etc. Many times, use of baytril to treat infections also leads to sudden blindness in cats. You can read more on cat health problems.

Signs of Blindness in Cats

There are man signs of blindness in cats that should alert a cat owner and he can seek immediate medical intervention. These signs of blindness include:

Cat keeps bumping into things

Cat cannot coordinate its limbs

The blind eye becomes cloudy or the pupil remains dilated even in bright light.

Cats becomes clumsy

It cannot find its food or water tray.

Sleeps a lot and becomes inattentive.

It is easily startled and becomes fearful.

Stops playing or no longer carries out its hunting behavior.

Diagnosis of Blindness in Cats

The vet may carry out a complete physical examination of the cat. Many opthalmic tests that include direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy, pupillary light reflex testing, tonometry, Schirmer tear testing, navigation of the pet through an obstacle course, fluorescein staining of the cornea, etc. may be carried out to determine development of blindness in cats. There are many other diagnostic procedures that the vet may carry out to determine blindness in cats. The treatment of blindness in cats is based on the diagnosis, therefore acute diagnosis is absolutely necessary.

Caring of a Blind Cat

Due to any unfortunate calamity, if a cat turns blind, it is the owners responsibility to take optimum pet care. The first thing to do is take the cat to a vet in case you detect any abnormality with the cat's vision. If your cat turns partial or completely blind, never abandon the unfortunate kitty. It is totally dependent on you and abandoning it to fend for itself is inhumane. Just as you will care for a fellow blind human, care for your blind feline.

A blind cat will adapt itself well and use its other senses to compensate for the loss of one. As an owner, make sure your cat does not roam freely outside. Always let it out under your care. You can tie the cat to a harness or lead for its own safety. Make the cat wear a collar with proper name, disability and address inscribed on it, in case it gets lost.

Allow your cat to walk around the house on its own. They have scent glands on their paws that helps them leave a trail of scent that can be followed. You should avoid carrying the cat in the house, as it will help him learn to be independent. If you move a cat, always put him back down in a familiar territory. Restrict the movement of cats near hot tubs, swimming pools, balconies, staircases, etc. as you blind cat may fall and spell disaster.

When you approach your cat, speak to him as you come near. This will avoid startling and frightening the cat. If he is blind in one eye, then approach him from the side of the eye that has vision. Avoid moving the furniture, litter box, food tray around until absolutely necessary. Cats leave their scent marks around and sudden change may disorient a blind cat. Play with your cat with toys that have sounds. This will help him exercise and enjoy his life the way it was. Speak to your vet regarding any queries on blindness in cats and cat health questions.

Blindness in cats is a disorder that may make you and your cat feel helpless. But, cats have a strong will and get over this condition quickly. As an owner you need to provide the cat with a lot of support, attention and care. A disabled cat is still your cat and you need to take care of it the way you did when it was normal. Remember, never abandon any helpless animal in your care.