There are a few things to consider if your cat goes blind or you decide to adopt an already blind cat. 

Firstly, be aware that sudden noises can cause a blind cat to be extremely frightened, so if a member of the family drops a large toy or a pan or even if there are loud noises from a car or machinery outside, make sure you reassure your cat so that she knows all is well. 

Ensure that you keep her food and water bowls in exactly the same place all the time so that she can work out exactly where to go to eat and drink and if you don’t have your blind cat outside in a cat kennel or cat run and she is in the house all the time, then ensure that her litter tray is easily accessible and kept in exactly the same place all the time.  You will of course have to keep the litter tray clean and hygienic for your cat just as you would for a sighted cat.

If you don’t have the inclination or the room for an outside cat kennel or cat run, then why not invest in a cat carrier so that you can take your blind cat out safely for short periods of time to get her used to the sounds of the outdoors.  We at ideas-4-pets have just added a fantastic new product to our range of cat carriers – it’s called a Sleepypod and is a cat bed, cat carrier and will also fix into the car so your blind cat will have the safety and security of her own cozy bed which will help to reduce her stress levels. 

If you have to move any furniture around in the house, then give your blind cat time to adjust – you may need to help her to find familiar things until she gets used to the changes.  Turning the TV on whilst you are helping her to find her way around will help her to find her bearings and bear in mind that it could take her quite some time to get used to the changes you’ve made.

If you have to go out and leave your cat in the house, then it’s good practice to leave a radio or the TV on as she might be afraid of the silence.  When you get back to the house, make a big fuss by calling her name and pick her up to reassure her of your presence.  Talking to a blind cat is very important as she will need to hear your voice in order to feel safe.  She may also want to follow you everywhere you go because she will want your company often as a constant reassurance.

Don’t leave any outside doors open and make sure any visitors that call are advised to close the doors behind them.  Carelessness can cause your cat to be lost as she would never find her way back to your home and she could even be killed by walking in front of a moving vehicle.  It is also likely that if she is not used to being outdoors that she will panic and run even further away.
                                   
A blind cat will tend not climb or jump onto things that are high or unfamiliar like a sighted cat would, but if it is something she has got used to, like the chair or the bed, then she may try to jump up.  She will almost always love the safety and comfort of her own special cat bed because just like most cats, she will want to have her private space and just curl up and sleep in a cozy place.

Your blind cat will want to play, but will tend not run around like a sighted cat.  She will enjoy toys that make some sort of noise or rolled up paper balls that will crackle.  If you have some dangling toys then carefully sew a bell at the end of them so that your blind cat can hear where they are when she paws it around.

Your blind cat will love to feel the warmth of the sun and will lie in it’s rays either near the window or outside in a cat kennel with a cat run.  She will probably try to catch flies as well, because she will be able to hear their wings when they fly past her. 

Adopting a blind cat will mean that you will probably have to make some adjustments to your life and your home but you will be well rewarded in the long run if you are prepared to make the commitment.