Would you believe that many owners of blind cats don’t even realise that their cat can’t see? That’s because cats are so good at using their other senses such as touch, sound and smell to compensate for their lack of vision. Older cats that have lived in the same environment for many years are so familiar with their surroundings that their failing vision has little effect on their quality of life. Keeping the environment unchanged and making sure they always know where their important resources are is the key to helping them cope with blindness. Loss of vision can be a sign of other underlying disease however so if you think your cat isn’t seeing as well as they used to, speak with your vet.
- Cat Professionalwww.vetprofessionals.com/catprofessional/publications_gb.html — download or order a paper copy of their book about blind cats, a very well written and comprehensive resource aimed specifically at owners.
- Cornell University Feline Health Centerwww.vet.cornell.edu/FHC/health_resources/topics.cfm — they have several very good articles (see ‘eye problems’) about eye diseases in cats and how to cope if your cat suddenly becomes blind.
- International Cat Carewww.icatcare.org/advice/cat-health/sudden-onset-blindness-cats — a good article on how to cope with sudden blindness.
- Cats Protectionwww.cats.org.uk/cat-care/care-leaflets/veterinary-guides — along with guides for general cat care, they also do a series of veterinary guides for many different diseases.