Old age, illness, or injury can sometimes cause your beloved cat to go blind. While this may be stressful for you and your cat, blindness is not a sign of the end of a happy and fulfilling life-of course, your cat will get used to its new circumstances and you can do a lot of things to ensure that your cat still has a happy life. Some things you can do to take care of a blind cat include taking her to the vet, keeping your home free of clutter, and finding new ways to play with her. Keep reading to learn more about caring for a blind cat.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Determining If Your Cat is Blind
Step 1. Schedule an appointment with the vet
If you suspect that your cat has gone blind, schedule an appointment with the vet immediately. Some types of blindness can be overcome if treated immediately. For example, if your cat suffers from blindness caused by high blood pressure, taking daily medication can restore her eyesight and also prevent other health problems.
Make sure your cat is regularly checked by a vet even if he looks healthy. Early diagnosis and treatment of health problems in cats can prevent blindness
Step 2. Look for signs that the cat is blind
Sometimes, a cat will go blind for days, weeks, or months. Once the cat is completely blind, you may notice some strange behavior. Watch the cat to determine whether it is blind or not. Some of the behaviors that are often shown by blind cats include:
- looks confused with the surroundings
- Always bumping into furniture and other objects
- can't jump or land like he used to easily before
- looks lazy to move or walk outside
- rubbing or squinting his eyes
Step 3. Examine the cat's eyes for signs of blindness
If your cat's behavior makes you suspect that he is blind, have his eyes checked to see if they look different than usual. Even if your cat shows no signs of blindness, you should check your cat's eyes regularly to check for early signs of blindness. Some of the symptoms of blindness in cats include:
- eyes do not respond to light, dilated pupils
- the eyes look cloudy, puffy, or the color is faded
- watery eyes
Part 2 of 3: Accommodating the Blind Cat
Step 1. Remove obstructions in the house
Since cats may have a hard time figuring out what's going on around the house at first, you should try to get rid of any obstructions in your house as much as possible. Keeping the floor clean will help the cat to walk around the house without bumping into anything. Some suggestions for reducing obstructions in the house include:
- do not change the position of the furniture
- keep the house clean and tidy things up
- teach kids to tidy up their toys after they finish playing it
Step 2. Maintain a quiet environment
Since cats no longer have the sense of sight to identify something or someone as a threat, they may feel more frightened by loud noises than they did before losing their sight. Help your cat feel calm and safe by not making loud, loud noises and asking others to do the same. If you accidentally make a loud noise, be sure to soothe your cat by petting it and talking to it gently. Some suggestions for maintaining a quiet environment include:
- Stand up slowly after sitting down instead of standing up suddenly.
- Climb the stairs to talk to someone instead of shouting.
- No slamming cupboards or doors.
Step 3. Talk to the cat
Since your cat can no longer see you when she enters a room, make it a habit to hum or talk to herself to let her know where you are. Your cat will feel more secure and calm if you mumble and talk when you're around him. This will also help you to avoid startling the cat when it comes to petting it. By showing your presence, the cat will be less surprised when your hand suddenly touches its back.
Step 4. Consider the growing need for security outside the home
If your cat is used to going outside before she goes blind, accompany her as often as you can when she's outside for walks. By being by his side while the cat explores, you can save him from an accident while still allowing him to enjoy the outdoors.
- Try to keep the cat in a closed garden when she wants to leave the house. This will help reduce the chances of the cat getting hurt or getting lost.
- Consider buying a cat harness and leash or leash to prevent him from walking into danger.
- If you can't keep an eye on your cat when you're outside, don't let her go outside.
Part 3 of 3: Caring for a Blind Cat
Step 1. Follow the care instructions provided by your veterinarian
If your cat has been diagnosed with a medical condition that requires special care and treatment, or other interventions, make sure that you follow the instructions of your veterinarian. If the cat's blindness is related to medical health, the situation will not improve until the cat is cured. Contact the vet immediately if the cat's condition worsens or does not improve with treatment.
Be aware that some forms of blindness are irreversible even with medical intervention. A cat may be blind for the rest of his life, but he can still have a happy life
Step 2. Play with the cat
Blind cats are still normal. Even though he's blind, he's still willing to do all the things cats love, like playing. When buying toys, look for cat toys made especially for blind cats. Also, switch games that require sight to games that rely on sound, such as “follow the sound” games. Anything that rustles, echoes, or can be hit can be a new source of entertainment for cats.
Try buying a toy that squeaks like a mouse or chirps like a bird. Cats may like to follow the sounds such toys make
Step 3. Treat the cat as usual
Bathe your cat regularly, feed it nutritious food, provide treats, and take your cat to the vet for regular checkups. Pay attention to the cat's nose and ears because these senses can now make the life of a blind cat easier.
- Keep your cat's food and drink in the same place as you normally would.
- Consider adding a second litter box to make it easier for your cat to go to the bathroom on time. It will take the cat a little longer after she goes blind.
Tips
- Cats' senses of hearing and smell are sharper than those of humans; therefore, in general, cats can compensate for the loss of the sense of sight better and faster than humans.
- Cats tend to be less stressed than you when they lose their sight – they won't know it's normal. Yesterday he could see and today he can't. Don't "humanize" what he's going through-instead, put your energy into making sure that his life experiences can be honed in other ways.
- A protected outdoor enclosure tends to be safer for blind cats than an open garden or yard.
- If you have children, explain to them why they need to tidy up toys and other objects.
- Encourage the cat to climb more than run. It won't hit anything while it's climbing. Attach a climbing pole or other object to push it. Sisal is a good object to replace a climbing pole.
Warning
- Cats with visual impairment symptoms should be taken to the vet as soon as possible.
- Cats with health problems such as diabetes should be checked regularly for signs of blindness.
- Many cases of total blindness cannot be cured.
