My little buddy may be going blind

[Stinky The Clown]

Last edited Mon Apr 30, 2012, 11:20 AM - Edit history (1)

Our oldest pet is our female tabby, Tigger. She's about 15 and still spry. She had some weight loss issues, but has never lost her kitty ways, always cheerful and always with a morning session of "cat crazies."

Two vet trips ago our vet told us she might have some thyroid issues. Last trip, she was less sure. Overall, she checked out just fine . . . for an older cat.

The last week or so she seems to not actually be seeing anything, although she still runs around, including under the table, missing the chair and table legs. She jumps up on the counter, up on tables, and up to her lair, above one of the desk hutches in the office.

She appears to be staring, but not seeing. She seems to "sense" things more than see. Today I used a laser pointer to tease her and she didn't react to it at all.

Her pupils seem completely dilated and her eyes have a sort of greenish cast to them.

Many years ago we had a Border Collie go blind over a very short period of time. Tigger is exhibiting similar behavior, and her eyes look just like PJ's did when it happened to her.

Has anyone else ever had a cat go blind? PJ lasted a few more years and did remarkably well. In fact, if you didn't know, you might not have ever noticed she was blind. Tigger's kind of the same because I have been watching her and testing, like with the laser, and I'm just not sure.

Cavers, show a little decency, huh? Here's a thread you can yuk it up about, okay? http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002615474 . Just leave my worry over my cat alone if you're able to show even a modicum humanity?

[Curmudgeoness]

1. I am sorry about Tigger, but

I had a cat who went blind, and she was able to navigate around the house just fine. The way I noticed was that she walked closer to furniture and walls when she was heading somewhere, but I would not have noticed it any other way. Like your dog, I believe that she could do just fine, but you probably want to have her checked out to see if it is treatable. My cat's blindness was due to the effects of kidney disease as it affected all of her organs, but she was not really bothered by the blindness and did just fine.

I hope that all goes well.

[TorchTheWitch]

2. my first Akita went totally blind in one eye

and partially in the other and I didn't even have any idea. I only asked the vet if there was something wrong with his eyes because I noticed in the dark they glowed a strange blue color, and the one eye much more than the other... I'd never seen that before. Turned out he was totally blind in the eye that glowed much more than the other and partially blind in the other but I never had any idea. I was completely shocked when the vet told me he could barely see and only out of one eye. There was never any inkling at all that he could hardly see with how he navigated and looked at things.

He used to get bad eye infections that was somehow a part of his sebaceous addenitis, and it was that one totally blind eye that was always the worst, so that's why it messed up his vision. I never had any idea in the world though that they had affected his vision at all though.

It was very hard for me to believe his vision was so bad with how easily he got around, but I know the vet was telling me the truth. It was just so amazing that he got around as good as ever though he was slower about it, but that was because of his arthritis.

I realize that dogs and cats are different, but maybe being animals and predators they don't use their vision so much compared to other sensory stuff normally anyway?

[ginnyinWI]

3. older cats' eyes do look different even if they aren't blind

They do look different because the retinas change--and give the eyes a glassy or opaque look. And they lose at least some of their night vision, normal for any aging cat.

Our 18 year old can't see very well at night, and we have installed photo-sensitive night lights all over the house to help her see at night, and also leave a small light on where the kitty litter boxes are in the basement. Otherwise she won't go down the stairs to get to them.

She does stare a bit more too, as if making sure of what she's seeing. Likes to nap with her face pointing to the window--lots of light.

She's also gotten quite deaf and yowls a lot as a result. Poor kitty--but nothing much more we can do.

[mopinko]

4. your link doesn't work.

the period is part of the link, so it is not working.

sorry about your kitty. don't know where you are, but these days there are veterinary opthamologists out there. did wonders for my old boxer and her ulcers. not sure they could help your kitty, but sure they could give a definitive answer. also could be a big help in dealing with it if she is.

to your kitty.