Conference misery::feline

    When my 16 year old cat went totally blind I knew it was time to put
    her to sleep.  She was a very independant outdoor/indoor cat and it was
    killing her not being able to see.
    
    I couldn't bear it when she tried to jump up on things and missed,
    walked into doors etc and after alot of soul searching and talking to
    my vet knew it was the best thing to do as she had had a long and happy
    life.
    
    Every cat is different and I hope you can find a way of overcoming
    this.  I think you have a better chance with your cat being indoor
    only.
    
    Good luck, I'm thinking about you,
    
    Kirsty
          

    I know sevaral blind cats. Some o'them blind from birth, some o'them
    blinded later.
    
    All the 4 pieces are well and happy.
    
    The oldest (12) learned in appr. one year fully what to do.
    
    They need a loto' love, though. If Your cat seems to be able to learn
    and does not suffer, and if you have time to spend with her, please
    don't give the cat up, if it is possible.
    
    I wish you best.
    
    Nat

    Mary Tamir who is an X-feliner rescued a kitten who ended up having
    to have both eyes removed.  Somewhere in this file...there are many
    stories of little Beth who is an amazing blind cat who lets nothing
    get in her way.   I'm sure I have Mary's home phone number at home
    and if you want I'm sure Mary would love to talk to you about little
    Beth and share some helpful hints.
    
    Of course little Beth grew up blind so I'm sure it's going to
    be a bit tougher with your cat...but I'm happy to see your
    giving him a chance.   I probably would start by caging him, advance
    to a small room and slowly let him get use to your entire house. Of 
    course...love him to death and spoil him rotten.
    
    Please keep us posted...
    Sandy

    
    	I've known of several people who had blind animals, cats
    	and dogs - some born that way, others came on later.
    
    	Animals are naturally instinctive and can adapt much easier
    	and faster than we can. I understand that as long as you don't
    	move furniture/items around, they can learn to maneuver quite
    	easily. Cats use their whiskers to judge proximity of objects
    	and do pretty well this way.
    
    	Give your kitty a chance... he sounds like a fighter!
    
    	Heidi

Thanks everyone for responding.  If anyone else has ideas, please send them in. 

I brought him home last night and he seems to adjusting.  He's still wobbly and
uncertain about things.  He seems to recognize his surroundings, found the 
litter box, the water, etc.  He is still weak but managed to jump up on the bed 
last night (on his 2nd try) and figured out where the edge was.  Since he still 
has to be closely monitered, I left him at the vet this morning and will pick 
him up tonigt, AKA pet day care.

My other cat is having problems adjusting to his return and perhaps even to his 
sickness.  She is a skittish cat but now she won't let anyone come near her and 
won't come out of her room.  This is one of her typical responses to a new cat.
I wasn't expecting this response and hope that she will adjust.

I hope that both soon return to normal.

Thanks again,

Maria

    For a short while, I had a blind kitten (she didn't make it - another 
    illness).  When I talked with Mary Tamir about it, she said basically 
    the same as a previous reply - let the cat get used to areas a bit at a 
    time, confining the cat at first to a small area.  She also said that
    the kitty will learn to follow its own scent trails, leading to some 
    interesting moves through open area (around items that aren't there
    now), etc.  The cat will have problems if you move things around, or 
    replace furniture or carpets (happened to Mary), but will again 
    establish trails soon.  This will include where it jumps onto
    furniture.  I was lucky enough to visit Mary, and see Beth is action - 
    it was *great* - she had no apparent problems, even to chasing a toy 
    mouse around - following the noise!
    
    If you do major cleaning with strong smelling products, you may have to 
    go through the "trail-establishment" procedure.
    
    But back to Beth - one of the people there had a video camera, and
    filmed Beth.  Watching the filming and later the video was amazing - we
    *knew* she was blind, but she stopped playing at a couple points, and
    *looked* at the camera - we were all ready to *swear* she could see it!
    That kitten was *not* handicapped - AT ALL!!!  The only thing we
    noticed, was her routes, and her reaction to a moved chair (she bumped
    into it).  When she jumped onto the couch - she walked along the edge
    til she reached a certain point - then jumped up.
    
    Good Luck, I hope your kitty adjusts as well as Beth.
    
    Linda

    
    Animals adjust/adapt well to blindness.  After seeing a horse
    do a complete performance, including going around obstacles and
    turning, trotting and galloping, and then finding out *after* that
    the horse was completely blind, it was so amazing.....  
    
    Lynne

      I've known people who have had blind dogs, and they did just fine.
    About the only thing that I know--cause the folks witht he blind pets
    told me this--is that you have to make sure that you do NOT re-arrange
    the objects where the animal lives, because they get a 'sense' about
    where everything is, and if something's moved....well, you get the
    picture. One friend had a dog that was so familiar with her area that
    you had a hard time believing she was actually blind!!
    
      JM

Are there ways that you can make the transition easier when you do have to move
the furniture?  In fact, I'm planning on moving this year and I was wondering 
how to get him used to a totally new environment.

He seems to be doing better but still doesn't have much of an appetite.  

Thanks again,

Maria

    
    
    	Mary Tamir was once part of this conference, I believe she is
    	still living in Nashua. She has a very special kitty Beth,
    	who is blind. Hopefully someone here in the conference and 
    	get you connected with Mary. Mary would be very helpful
    	in providing some details in the care of a blind kitty.
    
    	If I remember correctly, Beth was alway upset after Mary
    	had the carpet cleaned, because Beth could alway find her
    	way with the scent that her paws left in the carpet.
    
    
    	Mike

    See note 90.  That has a lot of stuff in it about handicapped 
    animals.
    Karen

    In this months CATS MAGAZINE, there is a heart-warming article entitled
    The Recovery.  It is about a cat that was hit by a car and ended up
    blind.  The owners kept the cat and the story (told in the cats view)
    is both sad and wonderful.  Read it...  
    
    Sandi, mom to 6 beautiful, wonderful kitties
    

    Maria,
    
    There is an article in a past Cat Fancy that discusses living with a
    blind cat.  If you would like a copy of this article, send me mail with
    your mail stop.
    
    Steffi