How to care for a blind cat

Cats lose their sight for various reasons: in one it can happen due to age-related changes, the other “catches” some kind of infection, and the third is already born blind. A pet that has lost its sight should not become a burden for the owner. Blindness is far from the end of his full life. You can take care of your furry friend and help him adapt to the situation and return to a normal existence.

How to understand that a cat is blind

Impaired vision becomes noticeable when the animal catches an infection or injures the eyes. It is much more difficult to identify vision loss if your cat is older. In old age, she may develop cataracts and glaucoma. The main signs that she may have developed blindness are the following:

• the cat walks in circles around the room, bumps into things and furniture, does not immediately find a bowl and tray;
• she uses the walls as a guide;
• lands clumsily while jumping and loses coordination;
• her eyes become cloudy, a thorn may appear on them (in this case, when examined by a veterinarian, dilated pupils do not react to light);
• the cat often squints and tries to rub its eyes with its paw;
• due to loss of vision, she stops moving around the house or walking on the street.

Over time, a blind cat begins to hear and smell more sharply. 

How to take care of a blind cat

Most often, blindness in cats occurs in old age. It is usually recommended to leave everything in its place without changing the living conditions for her.

1. Food, water and a tray should be in the usual place. 
2. The order in the apartment or house will help her to walk freely and not bump into things. 
3. If possible, remove all sharp and dangerous objects for the animal. 
4. Do not make loud or harsh sounds, protect your pet from excessive noise. 
5. If the cat is used to walking on the street, build a special aviary for her. For a blind cat, you can put climbing posts or a vertical play complex.
6. Do not keep windows and doors open unless they have a safety net on them.  
7. Do not approach a blind cat from behind. 
8. Pay more attention to her: talk, stroke, play with her in the same volume as before blindness. The presence of the owner and his gentle voice soothe the animal. 
9. It would be useful to buy a collar and write on it that your cat is blind. Don’t forget to include a phone number to contact you if it goes missing. 
10. Feed your cat a balanced diet, comb and bathe her.
11. For the animal, you can pick up special toys that make crunching, rustling, squeaking and rustling. Be sure to need outdoor games so that the cat does not develop obesity. Remember that now your voice serves as a guide for the blind pet. So reward her with a treat when she responds to your call.

In any case, if you notice the first signs of a decrease in vision in a cat, contact your veterinarian. Sometimes blindness will be inevitable, but due to acute hearing and smell, the pet will be able to quickly compensate for the lack of vision.