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Pet Forum / Miscellaneous / Animal Health / October 2004Our cat just went blind
Hello all, this is my first post on this group, and I'm hoping someone can discuss this issue with us. We have a 13-yr-old white blue-eyed male mixed breed cat that my wife found abandoned as a kitten. He's been deaf as long as we've had him but otherwise in very good health. He's always been a house cat because of his deafness. Four days ago he started walking around as if he couldn't see where he was going, bumping into walls and sometimes reacting as if something was near him when nothing was there. His pupils were completely dilated and did not close down when I shined a flashlight in his eyes. He is eating only about half of what he usually ate and seems to be urinating only about one fourth of what he usually did and defecating even less. I took him to the vet but he didn't know what was wrong and said he could refer us to a specialist. He wanted to try prednisone and an antibiotic for a week and see if there was any change. So far no change on day 2. As far as I know he did not get into anything poisonous in the house. He does not seem to be affected in any other way. He does get frustrated now unless someone is right near him petting him, and he was never a very affectionate cat. Could anyone tell me some possibilities? Due to her physical condition my wife can't care for the cat, so if this does not clear up we'll have to put him to sleep. Any input would be appreciated. --Hua Kul huakul@REMOVEhotmail.com Hello Hua, Sorry to hear about your cat. I think it's important to find out the reason for the blindness. If you decide not to go to a specialist, you might try another regular vet for a second opinion. I'd be careful with the steroids -- that's what triggered diabetes in our older cat. We also had a cat (a different one) that went blind years ago. She had cataracts. Cats adjust very well to disabilities. We found that Jabba did not take much extra care at all after she went blind. You do need to make sure you don't do big changes -- such as move around the furniture or change where his litter box or food bowl are located. As long as he has everything close at hand and knows where things are, he should be fine. I hope you find a way to work things out with him. He just had bad luck and is trying his best. Good luck to all of you, Rhonda > Hello all, this is my first post on this group, and I'm hoping someone > can discuss this issue with us. We have a 13-yr-old white blue-eyed [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > --Hua Kul > huakul@REMOVEhotmail.com > Hello Hua, > > Sorry to hear about your cat. Thanks so much for your response. My wife and I appreciate it. I never realized this could happen so suddenly. --Hua Kul High blood pressure can cause blindness in cats. Make sure the vet checks for this. Gail > Hello all, this is my first post on this group, and I'm hoping someone > can discuss this issue with us. We have a 13-yr-old white blue-eyed [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > --Hua Kul > huakul@REMOVEhotmail.com Also post this on rec.pets.cats. health & behavior. Gail > Hello all, this is my first post on this group, and I'm hoping someone > can discuss this issue with us. We have a 13-yr-old white blue-eyed [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > --Hua Kul > huakul@REMOVEhotmail.com we don't want to think about brain tumors, but there's always the possibility. Cat to Vet ASAP! http://www.vetinfo.com/cateye.html#Sudden%20Blindness%20and%20vestibular%20syndrome See this site for blindness in cats. > Hello all, this is my first post on this group, and I'm hoping someone > can discuss this issue with us. We have a 13-yr-old white blue-eyed [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > --Hua Kul > huakul@REMOVEhotmail.com > http://www.vetinfo.com/cateye.html#Sudden%20Blindness%20and%20vestibular%20syndrome > See this site for blindness in cats. Thanks very much Gail. That site was very encouraging. --Hua Kul A common cause of acute blindness in older cats is high blood pressure, usually secondary to kidney disease. His blood pressure should be checked ASAP and appropriate medication given, but the blindness is often permanent due to retinal detachment. Good luck to your cat - I hope he improves! Mark, DVM > Hello all, this is my first post on this group, and I'm hoping someone > can discuss this issue with us. We have a 13-yr-old white blue-eyed [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > --Hua Kul > huakul@REMOVEhotmail.com > A common cause of acute blindness in older cats is high blood pressure, > usually secondary to kidney disease. His blood pressure should be checked > ASAP and appropriate medication given, but the blindness is often permanent > due to retinal detachment. Good luck to your cat - I hope he improves! > > Mark, DVM Thanks Mark, and all responders. I will be returning to the vet in a couple of days and will discuss this possibility. The good news is that the cat seems to be adapting. We've moved his food, water, and litter trays into one room and he is finding everything. He's still not too happy about the situation, but we make sure he knows we're around by touching and petting him more frequently. --Hua Kul huakul@REMOVEhotmail.com > Thanks Mark, and all responders. I will be returning to the vet in a > couple of days and will discuss this possibility. The good news is [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > --Hua Kul > huakul@REMOVEhotmail.com >Hua, how is your cat? (was: Our cat just went blind) We did what was best for him. > >Hua, how is your cat? (was: Our cat just went blind) > > We did what was best for him. You had him euthanized? I see that you posted you'll take your cat back to the vet in "a few days." This is a BAD IDEA. Please, get him to a vet immediately. Sudden blindness is usually the result of high blood pressure, and if it's progressed to this point it's serious, even if the cat seems to act ok. The medication of choice to treat high blood pressure is called Norvasc, and the upside to this is if you get your cat on medication immediately, there is a chance your cat's retinas will reattach and he will regain his vision. Time is of the essence, and the longer you wait, the lower his chances are of seeing again and he's already on the tail end of the window of opportunity. Don't wait. Megan  Signature"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke Learn The TRUTH About Declawing http://www.stopdeclaw.com Zuzu's Cats Photo Album: http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22 "Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way." - W.H. Murray One more thing, if your vet doesn't have a blood pressure monitor, which is likely as he didn't even mention high BP as a possibility (and that immediately leads me to believe he's not a very good vet), get the phone book out and call around until you find someone that does that can get you in right away. Unfortunately, not all vets have monitors and are behind the times in this regard. Megan Signature"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke Learn The TRUTH About Declawing http://www.stopdeclaw.com Zuzu's Cats Photo Album: http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22 "Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way." - W.H. Murray |
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