Caring For and Training a Blind Cat

My kitten is 3 months old and it went blind a month ago. I love animals, especially my cats. There is no way I will have my blind baby put down I just need some tips on how to care for her. I do not have a lot of money, but I do want to give my blind baby all the love I can.

Maureen from Ogden, UT

Answers:

Caring For and Training a Blind Cat

I have a cat who went blind at 3 weeks old and he's now 12. And such a happy little guy! Do not put your blind kitten down. Caring for a blind cat isn't much more difficult or any more expensive than caring for a sighted one. There's not much you need to do, really, but here are a few common-sense tips:

1. Keep his litter, food, and water in the same place, always. What I did with my blind kitten was to put him in his litter box, then let him find his way out. Then I put him in front of his food bowl, and again let him walk away when he was ready. Your cat will memorize where these things are and he'll develop an incredible sense of smell, which will help him. Your cat should have no trouble at all!
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2. Keep an uncluttered home. Your cat will memorize how to get around in your home, so help him out by not leaving shoes, clothes, or anything else lying around that might trip him up or confuse him.
   
3. Childproof cabinets where you keep cleansers, and keep the toilet lid closed at all times. My blind cat is an explorer, believe it or not. I keep the toilet lid down so he won't accidentally fall in, and I bought inexpensive childproof "locks" for the cabinets where I keep cleansers, just to make sure he doesn't get into them.
   
4. Don't leave plastic bags lying around. This has actually never been a problem for me, but I always worry that Homer (my blind cat) might get tangled up in a plastic bag and not be able to figure out how to untangle himself so I don't leave them lying around.
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5. Talk to him. Your voice will be your blind kitten's way into the world. He'll love hearing you. So talk to him, pet him, and let him know he's loved.
   
6. Let him follow you around for a while. When I first got Homer, he followed me around constantly until he figured out where everything was. I helped him by walking around more slowly and with louder footsteps than I usually do just at first until he got to know his surroundings.

Honestly, I hardly even remember anymore that my little guy is blind, he gets around so well! Yours will too and he'll astound you every day with all the things he can do, even though he's blind. Good luck!

(07/09/2008)

By Gwen

Caring For and Training a Blind Cat

Gwen said it all. I have a blind dog and cat we adopted from the shelter here in Turkey. They are both happy and healthy. Don't change the layout of your house; she will quickly learn where everything is. Talk to her constantly. I would probably be committed if anyone heard my rambling monologues! Check out blinddogs.com for some excellent insight into the world of blind pets. As they say, "Blind cats see with their hearts."

Sharon in Turkey (07/09/2008)

By sharon weidensaul

Caring For and Training a Blind Cat

We adopted a one year old totally blind cat from the Duxbury, MA animal shelter on July 14. We have four other cats, two males and two females. They all get along fine. Here's some advice from us based upon our week of experience with Stevie (and we'll never give him up):

• Don't move your furniture around and don't leave anything lying around on the floor (shoes, boxes, etc.). The blind cat will learn the layout of your home remarkably quickly. Don't change things or he/she will get confused.
  
• Push your kitchen chairs into the table to give the blind cat a few less things to walk into.
  
• Talk to the cat whenever you approach it.
  
• Pick it up as little as you can and if you do pick it up be sure to put it down in an area that it is very familiar with so it won't get confused. For example, we always put Stevie down near his food and water bowls so he knows where he is.
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• Put his food and water bowls together. Also, it would help if you bought an electric powered water bowl. You can get one at any decent pet store. This will provide a sound that the cat can home in on. It works for us.
  
• Get an enclosed litter box.
  
• Don't ever move the food, water, and litter boxes once the cat figures out where they are.
  
• Buy some strongly scented catnip toys and toys that make noise. Stevie loves these little balls made of foil-like plastic that makes a crinkling noise. He goes right after them.
  
• Be aware that the blind cat will get around by touch, sound, and by smell. Be sensitive to this and don't try to overwhelm the cat's senses. Keep the TV and stereo volume down. If you have to make a loud noise, such as using the vacuum cleaner, go pat the cat a bit first to put him/her at ease before you start.
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• Be careful, especially at night, that you don't step on the cat.
  
• Try to give him/her a little extra attention. Remember, the cat can't see so anything you can do to bring the cat into your activities will be a big help.
  
• DON'T EVER LET THE CAT OUTSIDE!

We really love our blind cat. He's been no problem at all to us. He found the food, water, and litter box and there have been NO problems with him what-so-ever. He even walks up and down our stairs.

(07/10/2008)

By Marc F

Caring For and Training a Blind Cat

Hey, Leeann, etc, if you can't care for the stray, abandoned, or mistreated cats yourself, phone your local No-kill animal shelter. I am a foster parent for one in my city, and we keep the animals in good and loving homes, until we find permanent homes for them. I have had kittens here for as little as 3 weeks, and older cats here for a lot longer. I have one cat here who has been with me for 8 years. He has lots of health problems, but has a good life with us, and I would miss him dearly if he found another home. As for the blind cats, check out CatAge.com, lots of good advice there, and about the 3 year old, I totally agree with the person who said he is worried about that child. I run a day care and this is not acceptable behavior. This child should never be left without adult supervision around these small defenceless animals! (07/10/2008)

Caring For and Training a Blind Cat

(sent by email)
I recently wrote a guide to caring for blind cats which is available on www.catprofessional.com I am a veterinary ophthalmologist. I hope that it would help some people to get some useful insight into the special needs of a blind cat and how they can lead a wonderful and fulfilling life.

Caring For and Training a Blind Cat

We have a house full of animals, 2 ratties in my library/office, along with a fish that ended up not going to college with my daughter. We also just got a puppy (hoping he stays as sweet as he is) 2 weeks ago and have 13 indoor cats. I know this sounds a bit much, but we live in the country and most of the cats are indoor-outdoor, whenever they can con one of us into being a doorman.

One of our cats had a small surprise litter-outside. She is plump and we had no idea she was pregnant! The male is healthy and silly and the female developed herpes on her eyes, which resulted in terrible ulceration and infection. She responded to antibiotics and the infection cleared only to reveal that her eyes had already atrophied. Needless to say, she is and indoor kitty and is loved by all.

The other cats clean her and she seems to have some sort of inner sense of where things are, even over the holidays and even when things are moved. When something is changed, we carefully put her there, show her how to get up and down and monitor how she deals with the "new thing". Believe it or not, with the exception of a little puppy rough-housing, which she actually seems to like, this cat is totally comfortable in the house. It is almost like she has sonar whiskers.

Except for never letting her out, she has friends, toys (which she finds by some unknown means) and our love. When a toy went under the refrigerator while she was playing with it, she sat and "stared" at the spot until another cat came over and actually got it out and pushed it toward her. Never underestimate the power of cats' inner sense or communication with other cats. This little girl is growing and strong and will be our pet for a long time. (01/15/2009)

By Karen

Caring For and Training a Blind Cat

(Submitted via email)

My blind kitten tiny is so sweet. He gets into the bath tub and finally figured how to get out, instead of me lifting him out. I let him try to get out on his own and he did it just fine. He is so funny to watch. I am amazed how well he has adapted to his surroundings. He buzzes around all day long.

Judy (05/14/2009)