When it comes to cats, many of them do not have an easy start in life. And this is especially true for cats and kittens with special needs. But, what many people don’t realize is that these cats and kittens are just as special, loveable, and spunky as any other “normal” cat is. Thankfully, the world still has some amazing people in it who strive to give cats with disabilities and health conditions a chance to lead a normal life where they are loved, appreciated, and cared for. I reached out to the wonderful people at the Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary hoping they’d lend some of their powerful insight about adopting special needs cats, and they shared with me some incredible answers that prove just how wonderful these cats are.
Can you tell me what someone should expect when adopting a blind cat?
Expect to get a cat! Many people assume blind cats are disabled in some way but that’s not the case. They act just like seeing cats do – they play, run, eat, drink, sleep and everything else. With their other amazing senses, they can even hunt! Having said that, because they can’t see, it’s best to keep blind cats indoors. Make sure also that it’s not easy for them to escape out of an open door in your house. Some people who have created safe “catio” spaces for their blind cats make it possible for them to have some outdoor time, too. There are lots of DIY ideas for creating them online. Bottom line – blind cats don’t know they’re blind – they know they’re cats!
Once a blind cat is in your home, and depending on their personality, start by having them stay in one room for a day or two so they get used to the new smells and sounds around them. Keep a litter box and food area (not in the same place) in the room for them to use. Then, allow them to explore the house when you’re there. Once they know the lay of the land – where the furniture is and where the stairs are – they will be fine. Don’t move things around without giving them time to learn the new roadmap. One special tip – learned from experience! – when you’re reaching out to pet your blind cat, they don’t see your hand coming toward them and your voice may sound farther away than your hand actually is. So you don’t startle them, rub your fingers together as you approach so they hear the hand coming toward them as well as your voice!
What should people know about blind cats?
I sort of covered that above but maybe I can use this space to talk about how cats lose their sight.
The most frequent cause we see is cats who have an untreated upper respiratory infection. If a cat gets one and gets no treatment at all their eyes will eventually rupture. When this happens, the eyes are removed in an operation called enucleation. They do recover from the surgery – many of our cats have suffered from this condition, lost their eyes, recovered, and are living wonderful happy lives. The goal, though, is not to let that happen! We tell people that if their cat is sneezing, has watery eyes, or seems unwell, get to the vet asap.
Cats can also be born blind or suffer blindness from an accident or injury (as our Wifi did). However, another thing people – and some vets – don’t really think about is high blood pressure. If a cat suddenly goes blind for no apparent reason, it’s likely they have high blood pressure. Vets should monitor a cat’s BP regularly during check-ups. If sudden blindness should happen, getting on blood pressure medication fast is critical. If it’s caught before the retina of the eye detaches, a cat might be able to see again or at least regain partial sight. They may need to stay on blood pressure medication once that is diagnosed to prevent blindness and other medical problems caused by that condition.
Do blind cats do well in homes with cats that have the ability to see? I’d love to know how an introduction process can go smoothly with some expert tips.
Blind cats and seeing cats can live together very well. The best cat introduction process we know of – and this applies to sighted cats as well as blind ones – is slow and steady! Sometimes new cats immediately fit right in with other cats in a home. However, since cats are very territorial, it’s often best to let them adjust slowly to each other.
It’s important to get to know your cat’s personality first – find out if they are generally calm or love to play. Expect that they might be fearful for a few days until they adjust to their new surroundings.
The best way to do a slow and steady introduction is to keep the new cat (blind or otherwise) in one room of the house with food, water and a litter box along with any bedding or blankets that the cat regularly sleeps on and knows. Keep this up for a week or so. This allows the new cat time to slowly get used to new surroundings, sounds and smells and lets the other cats in the house begin to smell the new cat.
After a week or so, move the new cat to another room but leave his room open. Allow the other cats to go in, walk around, sniff and explore. They will eventually move on but have had a chance to “meet” the other cat without him being in the room. There may be some token hissing at this point.
Based on how the cats react, the next step is to put the new kitty in a large crate or carrier in the same room as the cats. At BCR a new cat may spend some time each day in a large crate in the room where he or she will be moving just to be sure everyone will get along and live together well. In the home, for times like this, the owner must be in the room and offer a calm presence for all the cats. Acting normally is the best thing to do. This first interaction should not happen around dinner time or near any feeding areas. Best if it’s in a “neutral” zone like the living room or den.
Make these encounters natural and stress-free. The cats may meet up and get along right away or it might take some time to make the adjustment. Another suggestion – if all the cats are living in the same spaces – feed the new kitty away from the usual eating area of the other cats. Even if they are getting along this will make sure the cats feel the new cat is a threat to their meals.
Be dedicated to the process and stick with it!
What should someone know when considering adopting a cat with FIV or Leukemia?
BCR has quite a few FIV+ cats in residence and they are living happy healthy lives. FIV is not a death sentence for a cat. They can live long and normal lives. This virus is transmitted through deep bites so usually occurs in unfixed male cats who fight with each other. If adopting a male cat with FIV, make sure he is neutered, which reduces fighting significantly. As long as cats are not fighting and living peacefully, those with and without FIV can live together just fine, as they have at BCR. (We regularly test our cats for FIV.) We wrote a great blog about FIV that outlines what it is and what it is not, the best tests to use to determine if a cat has it and how to live with it:
FIV+ cats do live a normal lifespan but they may be more susceptible to infections so regular vet visits are important as is actively monitoring a cat’s health.
FeLV is a viral infection that suppresses a cat’s immune system and can lead to them getting cancer, anemia or any number of other infections. Cats that test positive for it will most likely live shorter lives because of all the conditions it can cause. Today, there is a vaccine to help protect cats from FeLV and that, plus more reliable testing in the last two decades, has helped the incidence to go down. If someone adopts an FeLV+ cat, they will need to keep that cat separated from other cats who are unvaccinated and have not tested positive for it. It can be transmitted from an infected cat to an uninfected or unvaccinated one through saliva shared from bites or blood from fighting, grooming, shared food and water, and from urine and feces in a shared litter box. It’s been our experience that vaccinated cats can live with FeLV+ cats and stay healthy. An FELV+ mother cat can also give it to her kittens.
We believe FeLV cats and kittens deserve a chance to experience a happy home and love and they will do best with very dedicated and loving pet owners. There’s no cure for FeLV so vets generally treat the conditions that can arise from it like secondary infections and cancers. For these owners, having a good vet and making regular visits is key.
What is something special you’d like for others to know about the work that you do?
In addition to being a safe, loving and permanent home to our resident blind, FIV+ and FeLV+ cats and showing a global audience that they all deserve to live full lives, BCR also sponsors a spay/neuter program. Working with a veterinarian in the target area and local Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) groups, our program continues to treat more than 2,000 cats each year – more than 6,000 over the past several years. This work prevents literally thousands of kittens from being born in the colonies, living unhealthy lives and being very much in harm’s way. Sadly, most would end up being euthanized in animal control facilities. A secondary benefit of neutering is reducing the injuries and suffering of male cats, who, when fixed, tend to fight less, have fewer injuries and don’t transmit fight-borne viruses like FIV.
I want to give a special “thank you” to Katherine at the Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary for taking the time to answer my questions in such thoughtful detail. Hopefully, her wise words can inspire other cat owners to consider opening their hearts and homes to cats with special needs. For more on their amazing organization, be sure to check out their website and Facebook page.
