I have a 17 year-old neutered male cat who is blind - he lost his sight 8 years ago - we don't know why, but the vet says the problem is not his eyes -it must be his brain or nerve pathways.
A couple of years ago he started pacing obsessively in tight circles for maybe 10 minutes at a time. You can stop him if you distract him with attention or food, but once he gets going, just talking to him won't really stop him, and he'll just start right up again.
In other respects, he's a very normal, smart, healthy older cat. Could the pacing be related to the blindness - or could it be a form of senility? Does anyone else have a cat that does this?
2006-08-23 07:53:26 · 12 answers · asked by Anthony J 3 in Pets ➔ Cats
Could it be some sort of "blindism" in cats, the way that some blind people rock back and forth when they're standing? (Please don't think that's a prejudicial comment: several of my blind friends have that behavior.)
It may just be a way to provide some kind of sensory simulation to replace his visual awareness. Since you say that attention or food will distract him, the theory makes sense to me.
I wonder if a mild tranquilizer would help.
2006-08-23 08:00:44 · answer #1 · answered by Wolfeblayde 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Oh, I am very sad to hear about your kitty.. My neighbors had a dog that was the same way.. lost the sight and shortly aftgerwards, started that going in circles around and around. The poor thing was finally put down (poor quality of life issue) and the problem as with your cat is that it is either an aneurism or a tumor on the brain.. I am so sorry to hear of a pet having problems like that.
2006-08-23 08:23:41 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I had a kitten that did exactly that for many minutes at a time, and he had his eyesight. The vet said it was something wrong with his brain. Unfortunately, it was only a few weeks before he died unexpectedly....hope this doesn't bum you out.
Oh, I wanted to edit this part in...He would go in the tight circles pretty fast (possibly because he was young and spry), and it didn't seem to matter what was in way, he'd bump into it, but it didn't seem to hurt him, and that would send him off in another direction going around and around. Otherwise he seemed like a normal, sweet and happy kitten. I suspect that he brain deformity/problem was his demise, it just wasn't working right.
2006-08-23 08:04:28 · answer #3 · answered by ●Gardener● 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
If he's not distractable when that happens, I would say it's something organic happening in the brain.
Had a hampster that started entertaining us with back-flips. Thought it was cute - but turns out to be a symptom of something wrong in the brain.
However - if your cat is 17 - it's not likely that whatever it is would be treatable, and even the tests to find out what would be expensive.
Just love him and be happy you've had him so long. If he's not in pain, go with the flow.
2006-08-23 08:00:31 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
This is not an uncommon thing for both cats and dogs. He is scared and confused. He can't see his surroundings.
You may want to talk to a vet and ask if there is anything you can do for him.
2006-08-23 08:23:03 · answer #5 · answered by rltouhe 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well if you said that his blindness isn't his eyes it's in his brain so maybe something else happend in his brain to make him do this. Talk to your vet about this.
2006-08-23 07:58:45 · answer #6 · answered by macleod709 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Maybe he's looking for something. Or, if you like to rearrange furniture (or have just moved), he's trying to find his merry way around the house. Or maybe he's just getting up there in years.
2006-08-23 08:01:23 · answer #7 · answered by summerlover 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Dude! It's a17 year old blind cat!!!!
Prepare yourself mentally for his eventual demise. That cat is OLD! He's like (doing the math) frikkin' 81 years old!!!!!!! Give him a break is what I say, care for him, be real good to him and hold him alot cuz' his time's a'comin'...
2006-08-23 08:02:43 · answer #8 · answered by Ren Hoek 3 · 3⤊ 3⤋
hes lost
2006-08-23 10:26:07 · answer #9 · answered by pokerdarnoc 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
he can get exercise and not walk into a wall.
2006-08-23 07:55:07 · answer #10 · answered by a1tommyL 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋