My Cat Has Gone Blind Overnight, Anybody Had This Before?

[babytiger]

So sorry to hear about your cat.We have an old jack Russell that's deaf, can't always see and now got dementia..she's always getting lost in house and forgets she's been fed but can still be quite spritey just a case of being patient with her now.

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

I went to the vets, not all the eye is completely covered with the cataracts, but she is still more or less totally blind. If looking head-on they look all over, but if you look from the side you can see little bits of black around the edges. The vet was young and a bit inexperienced I thought possibly, she took a blood sample for diabetes and that was fine. She gave her some antibiotics and anti inflammatory injections and myself some tablets. I have to go back in 2 days to see if she has improved, if not they will take some blood for further testing of kidney and liver functions. My other cat died of kidney failure this time last year, but lived with it for around 3 years after diagnosis. She has actually been eating a bit more today and walking about more which is a good sign. Thanks for the replies, and sorry to hear about other peoples pet issues.

 

[Accy cyclist]

My last dog lived till she was 16 and a half. Like the OP i used to beat myself up a bit after she died about not taking her to the vets more often,but vets are very expensive. Take comfort from the fact your cat has lived to such a good age(and hopefully more to come). Some never away from the vet's,cats and dogs don't live to half that age!

 

[Andrew_Culture]

We think our three cats are about 18 years old, they've lived with us for nearly 16 years and were adults when we got them. We're reasonably sure they all have over-active thyroid issues, the symptoms being that they're more active and playful than they've been for years but eat an incredible amount of food. The prognosis is that their hearts will probably crap out all of a sudden, but it'll be quicker and kinder than the medication option.

It's not easy though is it.

 

[Linford]

I went to the vets, not all the eye is completely covered with the cataracts, but she is still more or less totally blind. If looking head-on they look all over, but if you look from the side you can see little bits of black around the edges. The vet was young and a bit inexperienced I thought possibly, she took a blood sample for diabetes and that was fine. She gave her some antibiotics and anti inflammatory injections and myself some tablets. I have to go back in 2 days to see if she has improved, if not they will take some blood for further testing of kidney and liver functions. My other cat died of kidney failure this time last year, but lived with it for around 3 years after diagnosis. She has actually been eating a bit more today and walking about more which is a good sign. Thanks for the replies, and sorry to hear about other peoples pet issues.

Google for a treatment called CAN-C (N-acetylcarnosine)
Developed in Russia, they have been using it for 10 years now to reverse cataracts in humans and animals. Looks promising

 

[Leodis]

My wife had a deaf dog, you could catch him on the sofa...

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

My last dog lived till she was 16 and a half. Like the OP i used to beat myself up a bit after she died about not taking her to the vets more often,but vets are very expensive. Take comfort from the fact your cat has lived to such a good age(and hopefully more to come). Some never away from the vet's,cats and dogs don't live to half that age!

16 1/2 is a good age for a dog. Yes the vet is extremley expensive and part of the reason I never went so soon. Still as people have suggested cataracts probably don't happen overnight, just surprised I never noticed them until now.

The prognosis is that their hearts will probably crap out all of a sudden, but it'll be quicker and kinder than the medication option.

It's not easy though is it.

Yes it probably is kinder, it's also horrible taking an animal to be put to sleep. Not that the sudden death scenario is going to be pleasant though.

Google for a treatment called CAN-C (N-acetylcarnosine)
Developed in Russia, they have been using it for 10 years now to reverse cataracts in humans and animals. Looks promising

Cheers mate will take a look at that

On a plus point my cat ate all its food this morning. I've been buying the more expensive Sheba stuff as I know she prefers it to regular canned Felix or Whiskas, it's not exactly going to break the bank.

 

[accountantpete]

Hope catty gets better.

I made the mistake of trying ours with a tin of Applaws tuna and now she only eats Sheba very reluctantly.

 

[furball]

Cataracts are common in older cats. They develop over a period of time and you don't really notice them until you light hits the eyes at a certain angle and you see they look opaque. Because the cataracts are slow to develop, the cat becomes accustomed to them and it adjusts its activities to the limitations imposed by the cataract.
The poor appetite could be thyroid or kidney related, again both common in older cats. Both can be controlled with pills and a low protein diet (easier said than done). The vet will probably take a blood sample then advise you from there. My cats appetite increased and she put on weight after being put on thyroid pills.

 

[02GF74]

Later he carried on repairing bikes still working for the refinery, he was known as blind Bill, this was in the 80s

had to be the 80s, you could not that say now, due to the Political Correctness he would be visiually challenged william..... which doesn't have the same ring.

 

[fossyant]

We lost one of ours 12 months ago with a tumour on her kidney. In the end she was bloating and not going to the loo. Was the kindest thing to do. Her sister is still with us, aged 17 and doesn't sit still. Eats like a horse but is thin. She does have a habit of over eating and being sick, as we also have another seven year old cat (food competition). The old one is still the boss despite no teeth.

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

My cat was ok for nearly a month but did not seem happy, I had to take it to the vets a on a later occasion with bad diarrhea and vomiting. She was ok for a week so, but yesterday night when I got in she appeared to be out of it wandering around never settling. When I woke up this morning she was having a seizure on the kitchen floor, I had to call a vet out and get her put to sleep. Not a great start to the year and its really upsetting, but on the other hand I think it is for the best as she had no quality of life at all. At least 17 1/2 years old (I got her from her rescue center as a young fully grown cat, they said she was 1 at the time in 1997).

RIP Hannah

 

[Paulus]

Sorry to here this CVD, she had an excellent life with you. It is always hard having to part with elderly pets. My thoughts are with you.

 

[Blue]

Hannah looked like a beautiful cat. 171/2 was a good age.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

I'm sorry to hear this.