UUUGGGGHHHH I preface that this is merely a venting post!
So I have posted before about my little guy Diego and some of his recent troubles. A few months ago I noticed that he was walking funny, missing his jumps, and becoming increasingly skittish towards things he shouldn't be afraid of (like he would hide when I would come in the door like he didn't recognize it was me). Fast forward to his vet appt and the vet agreed that, while there was nothing specific that he could see impeding his vision, something was definitely not right and we were recommended to a specialist.
Well, we still haven't gone yet (but I swear we are going Monday) and in the interim I have been trying to make whatever adjustments I can to make Diego as comfortable as possible. It seemed for awhile that his night vision was gone so I added extra lighting so he could see better, as well as some other accommodations. And, it seems to be on and off. Some nights I turn off the lights and he sits and wails and waits for me to come get him, yet a few nights ago he chased and caught a moth in dim light with no problem. What the heck?!?!?!?
Fast forward again to last night. I am all about the routine (and hence happy cats) and had everything (lighting, ect) status quo. Diego was laying with me in the big armchair watching a movie when, out of nowhere, he jumped up, ran over to the front door and started meowing, growling, and jumping at the peephole. The same peephole on the same door that has been there every single day of his very young life. I watched him for a minute, not sure what to do, when he suddenly switched tactics and started hurling himself, and I mean hurling himself headfirst into the door and wailing at the top of his lungs. I ran over and grabbed him and he was clearly terrified about something. What, I have no idea (and no, there was nothing and no one in the breezeway). His eyes were like saucers and he was rigid as a board. I tried to comfort him but of course felt totally helpless.
After a few hours the incident seemed to have passed and we went on with our normal routine. Then this morning, he was sitting on his favorite perch in the closet and I reached up to pet him. He got up, stretched, and just walked forward like it was no thing. Except, of course, he's 6 feet off the ground and totally dive bombed it. Thankfully he was able to right himself and is fine, but how on earth could he have not know where he was, to the point that he didn't even try to jump????
I am beyond guesses at this point so I suppose we just have to wait for our appointment with the specialist to get a better sense of if it's his vision or neurological or what. I just feel so bad and so helpless. I don't know what to do to make things easier and less scary for him and it just breaks my heart.
I suppose the only silver lining in all this so far is I have seen a huge change in his and Ella's relationship. They are never on top of each other but they are always close to one another, and I frequently see them walking slowly side by side like she is guiding him. When Diego started having his "incident" last night Ella flew across the room like a freaking bullet to try and help him but it was clear that even she didn't know what to do. After I picked him up she followed me to the couch and started grooming him like crazy in what I can only assume was a beautiful sentiment to try and calm him. So, at least he has her for guidance to help him navigate a world that I just can't seem to understand.
I'm just so frustrated in not understanding why this is happening or what is causing it, and terrified that it's only going to get worse. The specialist we are seeing is specifically for vision, and I am not 100% sure that's really what's going on anymore. My big concern (that my vet and I discussed) is that it is neurological and that there won't be a simple, if any, solutions available. Obviously I will deal with whatever it is and he's never going anywhere but I just ache seeing him so confused and scared.
What is going on in that cute little brain of yours, Diego?!?!!?!? Help me to understand and help you!!!!!
So I have posted before about my little guy Diego and some of his recent troubles. A few months ago I noticed that he was walking funny, missing his jumps, and becoming increasingly skittish towards things he shouldn't be afraid of (like he would hide when I would come in the door like he didn't recognize it was me). Fast forward to his vet appt and the vet agreed that, while there was nothing specific that he could see impeding his vision, something was definitely not right and we were recommended to a specialist.
Well, we still haven't gone yet (but I swear we are going Monday) and in the interim I have been trying to make whatever adjustments I can to make Diego as comfortable as possible. It seemed for awhile that his night vision was gone so I added extra lighting so he could see better, as well as some other accommodations. And, it seems to be on and off. Some nights I turn off the lights and he sits and wails and waits for me to come get him, yet a few nights ago he chased and caught a moth in dim light with no problem. What the heck?!?!?!?
Fast forward again to last night. I am all about the routine (and hence happy cats) and had everything (lighting, ect) status quo. Diego was laying with me in the big armchair watching a movie when, out of nowhere, he jumped up, ran over to the front door and started meowing, growling, and jumping at the peephole. The same peephole on the same door that has been there every single day of his very young life. I watched him for a minute, not sure what to do, when he suddenly switched tactics and started hurling himself, and I mean hurling himself headfirst into the door and wailing at the top of his lungs. I ran over and grabbed him and he was clearly terrified about something. What, I have no idea (and no, there was nothing and no one in the breezeway). His eyes were like saucers and he was rigid as a board. I tried to comfort him but of course felt totally helpless.
After a few hours the incident seemed to have passed and we went on with our normal routine. Then this morning, he was sitting on his favorite perch in the closet and I reached up to pet him. He got up, stretched, and just walked forward like it was no thing. Except, of course, he's 6 feet off the ground and totally dive bombed it. Thankfully he was able to right himself and is fine, but how on earth could he have not know where he was, to the point that he didn't even try to jump????
I am beyond guesses at this point so I suppose we just have to wait for our appointment with the specialist to get a better sense of if it's his vision or neurological or what. I just feel so bad and so helpless. I don't know what to do to make things easier and less scary for him and it just breaks my heart.
I suppose the only silver lining in all this so far is I have seen a huge change in his and Ella's relationship. They are never on top of each other but they are always close to one another, and I frequently see them walking slowly side by side like she is guiding him. When Diego started having his "incident" last night Ella flew across the room like a freaking bullet to try and help him but it was clear that even she didn't know what to do. After I picked him up she followed me to the couch and started grooming him like crazy in what I can only assume was a beautiful sentiment to try and calm him. So, at least he has her for guidance to help him navigate a world that I just can't seem to understand.
I'm just so frustrated in not understanding why this is happening or what is causing it, and terrified that it's only going to get worse. The specialist we are seeing is specifically for vision, and I am not 100% sure that's really what's going on anymore. My big concern (that my vet and I discussed) is that it is neurological and that there won't be a simple, if any, solutions available. Obviously I will deal with whatever it is and he's never going anywhere but I just ache seeing him so confused and scared.
What is going on in that cute little brain of yours, Diego?!?!!?!? Help me to understand and help you!!!!!
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