So, I have a blind cat who looks like he has no eyes. He does have them, but they sank deep into their sockets. The SPCA surrendered him to us. they were going to euthanise him.
[As a kitten he had a virus that caused his eyes to sink into his skull. He used to be able to see for a time before that. He was extremely malnourished when we got him(still a kitten, after he became blind). He was all skin and bones. The stench was unbearable. He was covered in fleas and filthy. His teeth were all rotten and we had to get them extracted, now he has only front teeth. He was very angry and upset, and very very afraid. He was terrified of human contact, and would become very aggressive and angry if someone got close to him. For 2 weeks he sat in his crate NOT MOVING AT ALL, like his soul was drained and he had nothing to live for. ]
It's been a year. We call him our Boy. He put on weight, and is healthy. He is the sweetest, most loving cat. He helps other cats to learn to trust, and he really is an amazing friend to cats around him. He is really the most gentle, affectionate cat I have ever known. Our own vet was giving him a few regular standard procedures when he also had a look at those eyes and told us that through surgery it is possible for the cat to see perfectly well again. Our Vet thinks that there is nothing wrong with the eyes themselves, so as long as they can be positioned forward, the cat would be able to see. He isn't able to perform surgery involving the eyes, so we have to seek a Vet specialist in this area.
I found out there is only one eye Vet specialist in my entire City. Sent this guy an email and he replied in what I felt was a rather condescending manner. His appointment fee is at $220 each just to talk to him, and he wants ultrasound($450) and other tests($$$) done as well as an invasive procedure to slice open my Cat because he reckons he needs to have a closer look before he would even know if he is capable of treating my Cat. We are looking at a minimum of 5 or 6 appointments(each $220) with this guy. And the clinic is very far away so would take a very long drive. The whole thing could costs us $6000+ or even $10,000 if this vet wanted to.
I'm afraid that even if I manage to come up with that much money, and after all that bloody time doing those initial check ups and even having my cat cut open with a scalpel to get a closer look, that he's going to say he's not qualified and experienced enough to help my cat. After all, he refused to say what the procedures were and claims he would only decide whether he can perform surgery on my cat after we do all those things he asks of. I would be absolutely devastated if that happens.
I want to know if you've encountered Enophthalmos in cats before? And really any information about how to help my Boy would be greatly appreciated. I feel I really need to have some of the relevant knowledge so that I don't end up paying for unnecessary and risky procedures.
Thanks Guys.
I'm going to put some pictures of Boy up, please look away if you think you would be uncomfortable looking at them.
[As a kitten he had a virus that caused his eyes to sink into his skull. He used to be able to see for a time before that. He was extremely malnourished when we got him(still a kitten, after he became blind). He was all skin and bones. The stench was unbearable. He was covered in fleas and filthy. His teeth were all rotten and we had to get them extracted, now he has only front teeth. He was very angry and upset, and very very afraid. He was terrified of human contact, and would become very aggressive and angry if someone got close to him. For 2 weeks he sat in his crate NOT MOVING AT ALL, like his soul was drained and he had nothing to live for. ]
It's been a year. We call him our Boy. He put on weight, and is healthy. He is the sweetest, most loving cat. He helps other cats to learn to trust, and he really is an amazing friend to cats around him. He is really the most gentle, affectionate cat I have ever known. Our own vet was giving him a few regular standard procedures when he also had a look at those eyes and told us that through surgery it is possible for the cat to see perfectly well again. Our Vet thinks that there is nothing wrong with the eyes themselves, so as long as they can be positioned forward, the cat would be able to see. He isn't able to perform surgery involving the eyes, so we have to seek a Vet specialist in this area.
I found out there is only one eye Vet specialist in my entire City. Sent this guy an email and he replied in what I felt was a rather condescending manner. His appointment fee is at $220 each just to talk to him, and he wants ultrasound($450) and other tests($$$) done as well as an invasive procedure to slice open my Cat because he reckons he needs to have a closer look before he would even know if he is capable of treating my Cat. We are looking at a minimum of 5 or 6 appointments(each $220) with this guy. And the clinic is very far away so would take a very long drive. The whole thing could costs us $6000+ or even $10,000 if this vet wanted to.
I'm afraid that even if I manage to come up with that much money, and after all that bloody time doing those initial check ups and even having my cat cut open with a scalpel to get a closer look, that he's going to say he's not qualified and experienced enough to help my cat. After all, he refused to say what the procedures were and claims he would only decide whether he can perform surgery on my cat after we do all those things he asks of. I would be absolutely devastated if that happens.
I want to know if you've encountered Enophthalmos in cats before? And really any information about how to help my Boy would be greatly appreciated. I feel I really need to have some of the relevant knowledge so that I don't end up paying for unnecessary and risky procedures.
Thanks Guys.
I'm going to put some pictures of Boy up, please look away if you think you would be uncomfortable looking at them.