blind cat?

Question

my Uncle has a siamese thats 15 years old and i really know a lot about animals and i study them really...but i really think their cat is going blind really bad...i know how to tell if a dog is blind but i really havent studied much on blind cats...but heres what their cats eyes look like...well since shes a siamese her eyes are already blue (i know dogs turns kinda foggy gray) but her pupils are completly open even in the bright light...and my uncle and his wife said shes been walkin around their house meowing a lot more as if shes lost...and shes been missing the litter box a lot and sometimes she doesnt even get close to the litter box she sometimes goes in another room...when u pick her she squals like u startle her...oh and she walks kinda stiff so i think she might have athritis...but im pretty sure she is blind or atleast almost blind...but i wondered if someone owns a blind cat or anything if they could tell me how theirs is...

well ive done some reserach and see my dog had this problem well not the blindness but i just called my Uncle and told them what i found on the computer and he said she eats a whole lot so im thinkin it could be diabetes

Answer 1

Pull a string (knitting yarn is good) at a moderate speed ( and try using jerking motions) in front of her and see if she will at least attempt to follow it with her eyes... if not, she is most likely blind.

Answer 2

It sounds like she is indeed going blind. I have a friend that has a cat that was born blind. She never rearranges the furniture because he knows exactly where everything is. I've known several cats that have gone blind. A good idea is to leave a radio or tv on for comforting sounds while they aren't home. And talk to her before you touch her, so you don't scare the poor dear. Cats and dogs develop arthritis just like humans do. There's nothing that can reverse it, but it can be managed with pain medications and glucosamine/chondroitin supplements. Have your relatives take her to the vet for a Senior Cat exam. Let the vet do senior blood tests to check kidney and liver functions. Since she's 15, those organs will start to decline. Also feeding her a senior cat food is a good idea. But if she has kidney issues, the vet may prescribe a kidney diet, like Hill's Science Diet k/d, Royal Canin Renal LP, or Purina NF. Best of luck to your uncle.
EDIT: What I meant by pain medications is the ones that your vet prescribes. Never give human medicine to an animal unless directed to do so by your vet.

Answer 3

Is your uncles cat eating lots of food, flooding the litter box and losing weight? That is diabetes. 15 is a good age to suspect it. Blind is another thing. If they leave things as they are and put out extra litter boxes it would help. Also talk to the cat alot. Don't just pick her up. You scare her. Call her name and talk to her and pet her and let her know you are going to pick her up.
She should be checked for a bladder infection since she is not hitting the litter box. So when she goes in for that and for pain meds for arthritis a blood test should be done for diabetes.
IF she has diabetes it is not a life threatening disease. Cats who are fed properly and that is NOT feeding them the crap from the vet. and getting them on insulin. Often the cats go off insulin in a short period of time if they are treated properly and fed high protein and under 10% carb food. Only wet canned never dry. The food mentioned by one person is all high carb, poor protein sources and just plain bad.
If your uncles cat is diabetic go to www.felinediabetes.com for help. 4000 plus members world wide can't all be wrong.
Also just for good health check this url and then the following one for help in finding the right food.
www.catinfo.org
read this article for all the healthy choices
in food for your cat.

www.geocities.com/jmpeerson/canfood.html
Janet and Binky's Cat food chart

Answer 4

If it's the diabetes, it's cataracts in the eyes. The pupils will look very cloudy, not solid black. Either way, if she's loosing her sight, make sure she hears you coming and do a tentative touch on her before using both hands to lift.

There's a handicats group on yahoo groups (for handicapped cats) if you wanted to join and pick their brains on blindness in cats.

Answer 5

The answers you've gotten so far are good, I just wanted to mention the one talking about pain medications for her arthritis...you can NOT give her ANY pain relievers for people! Tylenol especially is toxic to cats and it WILL kill her!

ONLY use pain medications your vet gives you or says are OK to use.