I found out today that my cat is totally blind.

[scarlet_owl]

The vet told us today. We knew she couldn't see very well, but we didn't know she couldn't see at all. She gets along pretty well, except for when she walks into things. Does anyone have any experiences with blind pets?

[kestrel91316]

1. Cat vet here - did the vet say why? I just recently diagnosed a kitty

with acute retinal detachment secondary to hypertension associated with renal failure. It just occurred a couple days ago, so we are attempting treatment with amlodipine and benazepril to see if she will be in the lucky 50% to regain vision.

Hypertensive retinopathy is a leading cause of acute blindness in cats.

Blind cats get along well as long as you remember to NEVER rearrange the furniture! LOL. And I recommend leaving a radio or tv on quietly when you are gone, so the cat can orient by the sound. They have great ears and noses, and tend to walk along the perimeter of the rom to stay oriented.

[scarlet_owl]

3. She does that! She will walk around the coffee table

for about twenty minutes, then she gets tired and lies down. The vet said her retinas were totally atrophied.

[demnan]

2. We had a very blind cat, Charlie

he was a tuxedo cat who got into too many fights while living on the street. You would never know unless you rearranged the furniture. The poor little fella would bump into things.

He grew a few long white whiskers along his sides.

Years later his vision improved and my mother noticed him one day gazing at her.