My cat just went blind.

ape48066

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Sep 12, 2015
Messages
117
Purraise
43
Location
Michigan USA
A few weeks ago I noticed that my cat's upper canine tooth look bad and it was very loose. We went to the vet they did a cleaning which led to the falling out. After a week everything seemed fine. Then about a week ago I saw a small sore on her lip, so I called my vet and they wanted to look at it, back we went. They gave her some medicine and sent us on our way. Then last night I come home to my cat VERY disoriented and not herself. Called the vet and went to emergency. After two hours and hundreds of dollars we are home with two different kinds of eye drops for the "bad" eye. Everything seemed okay last night but today she seems TOTALLY blind. I have an appointment in a few days with my veteran, should I wait or take her back to the emergency we went to last night? I'm broken hearted and not sure what to do?? Please help any support is helpful. Thanks so much. She's a ten year old girl.
 

evamilly

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Oct 11, 2014
Messages
325
Purraise
62
Location
London UK
What medication did they give?- have you telephoned the vet for advise?
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #3

ape48066

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Sep 12, 2015
Messages
117
Purraise
43
Location
Michigan USA
I'm not sure if the names of the mess. I did call the vet and all they want is for me to bring her back in. They took blood to send out for testing, should I wait for the results? I'm not sure what to do. [emoji]128549[/emoji]
 

happybird

TCS Member
Super Cat
Joined
May 9, 2013
Messages
1,029
Purraise
167
Location
Northern Virginia
Emergency vets are only equipped to deal with certain issues. Try calling your regular vet and explain the situation, let them know how serious it is and that she needs to be seen Now. They may be able to make an emergency appointment for you. If they are closed, there should be info on their answering machine with a number to call in an emergency.

I'm so sorry this is happening to you and your cat. It must be terrifying. Please keep us informed as to what is going on.

In the meantime, this thread may be of interest to you. It is by a member whose cat was recently blinded by the medication Baytril and how they are dealing with the situation.
http://www.thecatsite.com/t/305018/cat-blinded-by-baytril

Edit: Sorry, I left the computer for a few minutes and see you have already called.
 
Last edited:
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #5

ape48066

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Sep 12, 2015
Messages
117
Purraise
43
Location
Michigan USA
Thanks I'll try getting with my vet asap.
 

kittens mom

Kittens life was lost to a negligent veterinarian.
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 27, 2015
Messages
6,198
Purraise
3,964
Location
Moriarty, New Mexico
Our vet gave my cat a double dose of Baytril. We called the ASPCA poison hotline. If you're giving meds I hope the ER vet told you to stop. The is some thought that Vitamin E can help protect the eye. We were told to give 200 IU orally per day and to keep our cat out of any UV light.

Please don't do this because we were instructed to just something to throw out at your vet.
 

mrsgreenjeens

Every Life Should Have Nine Cats
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Aug 13, 2009
Messages
16,391
Purraise
7,131
Location
Arizona
I'm not sure if the names of the mess. I did call the vet and all they want is for me to bring her back in. They took blood to send out for testing, should I wait for the results? I'm not sure what to do. [emoji]128549[/emoji]
If she is blind, there isn't really much you can do except wait and see.  Sometimes, depending on the cause, it's temporary.  Sometimes it isn't


BUT, as you can see from Kittens Mom's thread, even older cats can adjust fairly easily.  YOU will need to be the one who has to make more of the adjustments....not moving things around, leaving things out...shoes, boxes, anything on the floor where it doesn't belong. 

Be sure to read the thread referenced above, AND the items referenced WITHIN that thread. They should give you lots of solace
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #8

ape48066

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Sep 12, 2015
Messages
117
Purraise
43
Location
Michigan USA
Thanks so much for your support. I'm hoping to get more today when the blood work comes back.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #9

ape48066

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Sep 12, 2015
Messages
117
Purraise
43
Location
Michigan USA
It looks like her retinas are starting to detach so we are going to a specialist. I'm hoping we can save her sight
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #12

ape48066

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Sep 12, 2015
Messages
117
Purraise
43
Location
Michigan USA
Thanks so much. After reading what happened with you kitten I'm feeling better. What ever happens we'll have to deal with head on. All I can do is give her lots of love. [emoji]10084[/emoji]️[emoji]128158[/emoji]
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #13

ape48066

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Sep 12, 2015
Messages
117
Purraise
43
Location
Michigan USA
They said it's something to do with her Aldosterone and blood pressure
 

kittens mom

Kittens life was lost to a negligent veterinarian.
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 27, 2015
Messages
6,198
Purraise
3,964
Location
Moriarty, New Mexico
They said it's something to do with her Aldosterone and blood pressure
My understanding is that this can sometimes be reversed. And I hope it does for your cat.

We found that keeping things in their place is helpful

first the well being of our pet.

keeping an open discussion about the financial end of this

And, realizing our emotions are not shared by our cat. She isn't grieving the loss of most of her eyesight. We are.

Oh and remembering we have another cat that needs our attention.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #15

ape48066

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Sep 12, 2015
Messages
117
Purraise
43
Location
Michigan USA
Thanks so much. She is now on blood pressure medication and is adapting to the sight she has. The specialist we saw today put me as ease with all of this. Financially I'm okay and the vets here in Michigan have a line of credit to help with the cost. We will have a great life together. I'm willing to do whatever I can to make that happen!! She's our only pet. [emoji]128525[/emoji][emoji]128570[/emoji]
 

mrsgreenjeens

Every Life Should Have Nine Cats
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Aug 13, 2009
Messages
16,391
Purraise
7,131
Location
Arizona
Thanks so much. She is now on blood pressure medication and is adapting to the sight she has. The specialist we saw today put me as ease with all of this. Financially I'm okay and the vets here in Michigan have a line of credit to help with the cost. We will have a great life together. I'm willing to do whatever I can to make that happen!! She's our only pet. [emoji]128525[/emoji][emoji]128570[/emoji]
So do they think if they can get/keep her blood pressure under control, her vision will improve?  I know sometimes if you can catch it soon enough when it's due to high BP, it can. 

 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #18

ape48066

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Sep 12, 2015
Messages
117
Purraise
43
Location
Michigan USA
It can get better but never 100%.  She will have to be on blood pressure meds for the rest of her life.  At least I know what happened and can help her. She's my baby I can't help but to take care of her any way I can.

 

kittens mom

Kittens life was lost to a negligent veterinarian.
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 27, 2015
Messages
6,198
Purraise
3,964
Location
Moriarty, New Mexico
We learned quickly that Kitten could pick out objects better if there was a high contrast. Light toys on dark background or dark on light. Patterns make it harder for her to find things. Abrupt changes in light to dark or the other way can cause her to stand still for a few seconds while her mind and eyes catch up. She is more active at night if I put the nightlights in.

Kitten has decreased peripheral vision. We find ways to get her to track an object with her eyes and teach her how to manage with her decreased vision. She tracks slower and you can see her head click along rather than a smooth motion.

She had some clicker training as a kitten and we have gone back to that. I'm suing a long handled kitchen sponge as a target. She is becoming more proficient at following an object. I'm hoping this exercise will teach her eyes and brain to use what vision she has efficiently.

Follow your cat around the house and observe her highways. They look for things that never posed a problem but could now. We have added carpet to all surfaces for easier traction. One shelf in a jumping spot. and I have one of my vintage 50's chests that the pulls have to go. Lighted balls , balls with bells haven't went over well. She still plays with her favorite toys.

Small burlap bags from the craft store filled with catnip, a tape measure, an old coiled phone cord and marbles she snitches from my collection and shoots like cannon balls.

Find some humor. Blind cat jokes are rampant and horrid. As she was paddling on my hooked rug this morning my hub told her no. I gave her a voice saying I'm blind daddy , it was an honest mistake. Laughter can release so much tension. And if you don't you're going to go crazy.

I hand raised Kitten. She feeds off my emotions. If' I'm upset she shows her own level of stress. Our pets have a bond with us and any of them will eventually feed off anger and stress.
 
Top