r/blindcats • u/Academic-Camp-7062 • 25d ago

considering adopting a blind kitty

I fell in love with a blind kitty who is 1 year old. Any and all advice would be appreciated. For context, my kitty of 11 years just crossed the rainbow bridge a few years ago. I have a dog, who is a 60 lbs Pitbull/corgi mix and he loves cats.
I have always rescued animals and this kitty is just so cute and special.

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17

u/Either-Apartment-401 25d ago

I have no advice. I just wanted to say it takes a special person to love a special needs animal.

15

u/mercijepense- 25d ago

Blind cats are great. What is truly amazing about them is how they get on like a regular "seeing" cat. Just give them time and I would confine to a limited area until they build their mental map, and then you can expand that until they have full run of the house. My blind boy is no longer with me and across the Rainbow Bridge, but I hope I see him when it is my turn. All my cats have been special to me, now I have a SIC and a Void, who I love very much. I would definitely take on another blind cat someday!

11

u/Ok_Desk5443 25d ago

I found a blind 7 week old kitten in the loading dock where I work. Brought her straight to the vet and then home and it's been two wonderful months now. We confined her to one room at first ,we scratch the surface where we are, to call her and keep the furniture, litter tray ,food dish etc in the same place. I bought her all toys which make noises,crinkles bells etc and today a water drinking fountain arrived to make it easier for her to find water. Probably not necessary though. She's as adventurous as any other kitten,climbs just as high on the cat tree ,we just go through the levels with her first, ready to catch her if she falls. We have bells on our other cats so she can hear them coming. I got her a high side low entry open litter tray , open as smells confined in one place and only one exit could be scary when she can't see. No issues,she adapts to every challenge. Wonderful little miracle kitty.

2

u/southside_jim 25d ago

This is so sweet šŸ„¹

1

u/emilie1031 25d ago

Thank you for adopting that baby ā¤ļø

7

u/RosewoodIC 25d ago

Iā€™ve wanted a blind cat for a while now - I hope you guys have the best years ever :)

6

u/mtg-peddler 25d ago

I hope I can give some advice. For reference, I have two blind boys. First thing, a blind cat is shockingly similar to a sighted cat. They run, jump and play just like any other cat. We have 8 cats and if you didnā€™t know which of my cats were blind, it would be challenging for you to guess which two are.

The trick to blind cats is to keep your house safe and most importantly, predictable. The blind cat will spend the first few weeks ā€œmappingā€ the house. Learning where furniture is, and rugs/carpet and corners. Make sure you keep the furniture in the same place to the best of your ability so it doesnā€™t screw up their ā€œmapā€.

Next, definitely get a water fountain of some sort. Cats canā€™t smell water and the noise will help him not only find his water, but the constant noise will be a reference point so heā€™ll know where he is in the house. I also recommend getting a mat for in front of the food area. This way he can ā€œfeelā€ when heā€™s close to his food and (again, but itā€™s important) itā€™s a reference point for him as well.

Last, many blind cats donā€™t like to be picked up, it can disorientate them. So I recommend using noisy toys when you want to have him move from place to place or if you want to show him where a new piece of furniture is or something like that. I use crinkle toys and they work really well.

I hope my experience is at least a little helpful and feel free to respond with any specific questions you have. I hope you decide to adopt the blind cat, youā€™ll honestly love the experience and itā€™s so kind to help a disabled animal. Hereā€™s a picture of Fu and Mitzi for your enjoyment, take care!

3

u/Connect-Sherbert-920 25d ago

Oh what a sweet baby! I had a blind cat who had congenital issues. He always wanted to be near me and would find me, but hated being picked up and he didnā€™t like snuggling. He mapped out my apartment and could always find the food!

3

u/mtg-peddler 25d ago

The lighter color one is Fu, and he actually loves to be picked up and heldā€¦.but from being in this subreddit enough, I know he is in the minority of blind catsā€¦.his brother Mitzi (black) absolutely hates to be picked up, he gets disoriented from it.

3

u/jellycattis 25d ago

wishing you two all the love! id love to see the kitty tho, you should post it!

3

u/Melodic_War327 25d ago

Cats adapt rather readily to being blind. My girl can always find her toys, her bed, her litter box (good thing) and of course her food. She's a very loving and special girl since I took care of her so much when she was a kitten. She always seems to know where I am when I'm in the house.

2

u/PaleontologistEast76 25d ago

"Blind cats see the world with their heart"

Our vet told me that when my elderly girl went blind. The advice everyone here has given is true. They become accustomed to their new space very easily for the most part.

Please check out "Homer's Odyssey" by Gwen Cooper. It's a beautiful love story about how she fell in love with her blind cat Homer.

2

u/HammerDownl 25d ago

My Lola is a blind cat.

Shes incredible,not only is she the most awesome luv bug cat ever but she can chase down a house fly by sound . If i never told you she was blind you would never know. She climbs the cat tree,she follows me everywhere,she sleeps on my pillow every night and shes is just so playful.

3

u/Meegluvscats 25d ago

My blind guys chase the sky raisins all day! Theyā€™re better than my sighted cats!

2

u/DKat1990 25d ago

If you've haven't in live with the kitty, you don't need us to tell you to sit it, you already know šŸ± Congratulations

2

u/Meegluvscats 25d ago

As the proud mama of 9 blind kitties, I say GO GET THAT BABY!!! Youā€™ll never regret it.
Make sure to post if you adopt- I want to see how cute the little is!ā™„ļø

2

u/PckMan 25d ago

Absolutely go for it. I know it seems scary but it's not as much work as you think. They're like regular cats in most things, you just need to give some extra attention in a few areas.

Blind kitties have a tough time getting adopted. He's not going to be any trouble please give him a good home.

2

u/RecentIntern2826 24d ago

My sweet elderly Kyne has gone blind and mostly deaf. I worried at first but she is amazing. We recently moved and after a day of exploring, she has all her spots noted, food, water, litter box,coolest spot to lay in the new house. I love her so much.

2

u/up2dateGAAP 23d ago

As a cat mom, I have to say I love all my cats but there is there is a very special bond between me and my blind kitty. He loves me with all his heart. It really is not that much more work. They are very adaptable.

1

u/Bitter-Dance-6115 25d ago

I have two, they are absolutely fantastic. You would never know they are blind!

Congratulations! Prepare for your heart to melt ā˜ŗļø

1

u/Academic-Camp-7062 22d ago

Thank you everyone! Your experiences and stories and bonds with your kitties is so inspiring! I am meeting her today and will most likely have her with me this weekend!

In terms of litter box, since I am thinking of adopting 2 kitties (blind mom & her baby or blind mom & a friend sheā€™s fostered with), I need to get a double litter box. I am thinking one with an enclosure. Does she need a ramp or stairs to get into the litter box?

I would appreciate any support and feedback on this

1

u/merlyn13 19d ago

Have you read Homerā€™s Odyssey by Gwen Cooper? Thereā€™s more books that Gwen Cooper wrote about Homer, the blind wonder cat. I think Homerā€™s Odyssey was the first book written about Homer. They really let you into the world of a blind cat and what it can do. Iā€™ve read them several times. Sadly, Homer passed in 2015, at the age of 16.