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#1
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Advice requested: blind cat
My son (who is very soft-hearted about animals) lives in an
apartment complex where they are very limited about how many animals they can have. There are also a lot of abandoned animals. A few weeks ago, he told us about this blind cat they've been feeding. She's a she, nearly as we can tell, and it looks like she's been blind from birth...there is no obvious damage to her eyes. She's a total sweetheart tuxedo girl, and gets around pretty well by scent, whiskers, and sound. She was well socialized, clearly. They can't keep her (and can't really afford to keep feeding her). We're down to six now, and really would like to take her, but wonder if it's fair to her. How much trouble is it likely to be to integrate a blind cat into a household with six other cats and a dog? Will she be able to go outside eventually (she's an outdoor cat now). We have no clue if she's litter trained or not; is that likely to be a problem? We've had blind cats and dogs before, but it's always come on as they've aged, and they've known the house and yard long before they lost their sight. This kitty would be coming into someplace new and unknown. If they take her to the animal shelter, she'll simply be euthanized, I would expect. Any advice, helpful hints, etc? -- Deborah apparently not enough masters yet |
#2
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Advice requested: blind cat
"Phoenix" wrote in message ... My son (who is very soft-hearted about animals) lives in an apartment complex where they are very limited about how many animals they can have. There are also a lot of abandoned animals. A few weeks ago, he told us about this blind cat they've been feeding. She's a she, nearly as we can tell, and it looks like she's been blind from birth...there is no obvious damage to her eyes. She's a total sweetheart tuxedo girl, and gets around pretty well by scent, whiskers, and sound. She was well socialized, clearly. They can't keep her (and can't really afford to keep feeding her). We're down to six now, and really would like to take her, but wonder if it's fair to her. How much trouble is it likely to be to integrate a blind cat into a household with six other cats and a dog? Will she be able to go outside eventually (she's an outdoor cat now). We have no clue if she's litter trained or not; is that likely to be a problem? We've had blind cats and dogs before, but it's always come on as they've aged, and they've known the house and yard long before they lost their sight. This kitty would be coming into someplace new and unknown. If they take her to the animal shelter, she'll simply be euthanized, I would expect. Any advice, helpful hints, etc? So if you took her, and things didn't work out (sometimes they really don't) she would be no worse off than she is now? Others on the group with experience will speak up, but it seems that cats handle being blind quite well. One that has been blind from birth likely has very good adaptive skill. I would be reluctant to ever let her back out though, since she may have no experience with staying close enough to be called. And she would be in more danger of getting run over than that average cat. Its spring, if you have room in your home and heart for her, get her to the vet to make sure she is altered before she does what cats do. Jo |
#3
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Advice requested: blind cat
"Phoenix" wrote in message
... My son (who is very soft-hearted about animals) lives in an apartment complex where they are very limited about how many animals they can have. There are also a lot of abandoned animals. A few weeks ago, he told us about this blind cat they've been feeding. She's a she, nearly as we can tell, and it looks like she's been blind from birth...there is no obvious damage to her eyes. She's a total sweetheart tuxedo girl, and gets around pretty well by scent, whiskers, and sound. She was well socialized, clearly. They can't keep her (and can't really afford to keep feeding her). We're down to six now, and really would like to take her, but wonder if it's fair to her. How much trouble is it likely to be to integrate a blind cat into a household with six other cats and a dog? Will she be able to go outside eventually (she's an outdoor cat now). We have no clue if she's litter trained or not; is that likely to be a problem? We've had blind cats and dogs before, but it's always come on as they've aged, and they've known the house and yard long before they lost their sight. This kitty would be coming into someplace new and unknown. If they take her to the animal shelter, she'll simply be euthanized, I would expect. Any advice, helpful hints, etc? -- Deborah apparently not enough masters yet I hope MaryL will chime in. Her cat Duffy has been blind from birth and he gets along just fine. She has some great photos of him sitting high up in her Christmas tree I read an article recently in Cat Fancy magazine about having a blind cat. I'm afraid I gave the magazine to my neighbor. The only thing that stands out in my mind is they mentioned it's important not to "sneak up" on them. My cat Persia isn't blind yet I've been known to give her a fright if she wasn't expecting to be touched (from behind). So verbal clues are important. The blind kitty may have more acute hearing but sometimes cats are off in their own little worlds, as you know I agree with Jo. I can't see the cat being any worse off if than if you left her to her own devices. It sounds like she's living outside. It's a big scary world out there even when they *can* see. (If it doesn't work out, is there a no-kill shelter in your area? Being blind isn't a death sentence, although if it's a kill-facility they probably would euthanize a "handicapped" animal sooner.) Good luck and I do hope you give her a forever home! Jill |
#4
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Advice requested: blind cat
I think for her, having difficulty learning a new area, as opposed to being
PTS is definitely a better alternative, and speaking as a blind person, if you start her off in a small place and go slowly everything can be worked out, perhaps, Duffy's slave can help as well, Lee "Phoenix" wrote in message ... My son (who is very soft-hearted about animals) lives in an apartment complex where they are very limited about how many animals they can have. There are also a lot of abandoned animals. A few weeks ago, he told us about this blind cat they've been feeding. She's a she, nearly as we can tell, and it looks like she's been blind from birth...there is no obvious damage to her eyes. She's a total sweetheart tuxedo girl, and gets around pretty well by scent, whiskers, and sound. She was well socialized, clearly. They can't keep her (and can't really afford to keep feeding her). We're down to six now, and really would like to take her, but wonder if it's fair to her. How much trouble is it likely to be to integrate a blind cat into a household with six other cats and a dog? Will she be able to go outside eventually (she's an outdoor cat now). We have no clue if she's litter trained or not; is that likely to be a problem? We've had blind cats and dogs before, but it's always come on as they've aged, and they've known the house and yard long before they lost their sight. This kitty would be coming into someplace new and unknown. If they take her to the animal shelter, she'll simply be euthanized, I would expect. Any advice, helpful hints, etc? -- Deborah apparently not enough masters yet |
#5
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Advice requested: blind cat
Phoenix wrote:
Any advice, helpful hints, etc? All I can say as a fosterer is that I am constantly amazed by how adaptable and flexible cats are, and will overcome physical difficulties with apparent ease, given enough time and encouragement. So go for it! You will not regret it. I would hesitate about allowing her outdoors unless you live in a really safe, traffic-free area, though. Deb. -- http://www.scientific-art.com "He looked a fierce and quarrelsome cat, but claw he never would; He only bit the ones he loved, because they tasted good." S. Greenfield |
#6
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Advice requested: blind cat
"Debbie Wilson" wrote in message
... Phoenix wrote: Any advice, helpful hints, etc? All I can say as a fosterer is that I am constantly amazed by how adaptable and flexible cats are, and will overcome physical difficulties with apparent ease, given enough time and encouragement. So go for it! You will not regret it. I would hesitate about allowing her outdoors unless you live in a really safe, traffic-free area, though. Deb. -- I would add, "or don't live in an area where you can guarantee there are no dogs or wild animals who might attack cats". Jill |
#7
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Advice requested: blind cat
On Feb 21, 11:41*pm, Phoenix wrote:
We're down to six now, and really would like to take her, but wonder if it's fair to her. How much trouble is it likely to be to integrate a blind cat into a household with six other cats and a dog? Will she be able to go outside eventually (she's an outdoor cat now). We have no clue if she's litter trained or not; is that likely to be a problem? If they take her to the animal shelter, she'll simply be euthanized, I would expect. As everyone else here says at least give it a try rather than just handing her to the animal shelter. Try searching this site for "MaryL" (Or keep watching the thread she's around a lot and I am sure when she sees the subject she'll read it and reply) she has a blind cat. They're very adaptable creatures over in rpch+b a couple of years back there were some people with a Siamese called Jasper Dudely who they took in after his previous slave died and he adapted very quickly to his new home despite being blind and also completely deaf Lesley Slave of the Fabulous Furballs |
#8
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Advice requested: blind cat
Jofirey wrote:
So if you took her, and things didn't work out (sometimes they really don't) she would be no worse off than she is now? That's a perspective I hadn't considered; thank you. I would be reluctant to ever let her back out though, since she may have no experience with staying close enough to be called. And she would be in more danger of getting run over than that average cat. That is one of the issues, although I think we could work it out for her. We live on a very rural gravel road with little traffic, so I'm not so worried about getting run over, but I am concerned about getting disoriented and lost. Its spring, if you have room in your home and heart for her, get her to the vet to make sure she is altered before she does what cats do. Oh, we are planning to have her vetted & neutered in any event. She will also need to be tested for FeLeuk and FIV, along with worms, fleas, earmites... the usual suspects. She is mostly likely part of a litter from a mama-cat whose human lets her get pregnant over and over and keeps the kittens "as long as they're cute" and tosses them out on their own when they are grown. GRRRRRrrrrrrr. -- Deborah phoenixpdx.livejournal.com |
#9
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Advice requested: blind cat
On Feb 21, 11:41*pm, Phoenix wrote:
A few weeks ago, he told us about this blind cat they've been feeding. She's a she, nearly as we can tell, and it looks like she's been blind from birth...there is no obvious damage to her eyes. She's a total sweetheart tuxedo girl, and gets around pretty well by scent, whiskers, and sound. She was well socialized, clearly. I suppose what occurs to me is that despite being blind and abanodoned she'd found a food source presumably is coping with feeding with other abandoned animals and getting her share of the food I somehow think when presented with a warm loving home, regular meals etc she'll adapt easily as she's smart enough to have adapted before and to much worse conditions in fact she'll probably be happier indoors- the few people I know with blind cats sayas long as you don;t move furniture too much they're fine (MaryL's owner Duffy climbs to the top of the cat tree without a problem) You say apparently you don't have enough masters yet..this little tuexedo girl needs decent slaves....you know you're gonna take her in don;t you? I think we will just sit back and anticipate some pictures Lesley Slaveof the Fabulous Furballs |
#10
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Advice requested: blind cat
Phoenix wrote:
My son (who is very soft-hearted about animals) lives in an apartment complex where they are very limited about how many animals they can have. There are also a lot of abandoned animals. A few weeks ago, he told us about this blind cat they've been feeding. She's a she, nearly as we can tell, and it looks like she's been blind from birth...there is no obvious damage to her eyes. She's a total sweetheart tuxedo girl, and gets around pretty well by scent, whiskers, and sound. She was well socialized, clearly. They can't keep her (and can't really afford to keep feeding her). We're down to six now, and really would like to take her, but wonder if it's fair to her. How much trouble is it likely to be to integrate a blind cat into a household with six other cats and a dog? Will she be able to go outside eventually (she's an outdoor cat now). We have no clue if she's litter trained or not; is that likely to be a problem? We've had blind cats and dogs before, but it's always come on as they've aged, and they've known the house and yard long before they lost their sight. This kitty would be coming into someplace new and unknown. If they take her to the animal shelter, she'll simply be euthanized, I would expect. Any advice, helpful hints, etc? No advice unfortunately, but lots of purrs, Polonca and Soncek |
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