So, I thought I should finally put some thoughts to the paper on dealing with a “newly” blind cat.
It has been an interesting journey – without any doubt. There is literally hundreds of things to say, and some significant changes I have had to make, to deal with this situation.
First, and foremost, there is a personality change that happens. In my case, Little Bit was the alpha cat, the confident, always in charge one. He no longer is the alpha cat, and is much more skittish about unexpected noises and any change in the routine.
In a real way, he has become more attached to me, but finds it harder to “get to me”. Little Bit almost has to “plan” to get access (be it sitting on my lap or sleeping next to me at night). He has to make sure he is the first one there. If another cat is already there, given his lower social ranking, he will move off. I do find that very sad.
I have had to make sure that the other cats do not cause him problems. Strangely, the worst behaved cat is Maple. She has tried to chase him “off” a few times. Given that whenever she does that, she gets chased a bit with a squirt gun, she is modifying her behavior (at least while I am around).
Unexpected noises are very bad. If it is enough to startle a cat, he will run, and he might run into something. A few weeks ago he did, and ran into the molding on a bookcase, and broke the molding. Things like that make me very concerned.
Feeding dynamics have also changed. It appears that Little Bit can do better with pate wet food, rather than shreds or chunks. He needs help to find his dry food – he may know the general area where it is, but he needs me to drop a few kibbles into the dish to home in on it. I also have to make sure that the other cats do not try to muscle him away from his own food – again a squirt gun comes in handy. Don’t mess with BitBit, or the evil daddy unit and the nasty squirt gun comes out!
Everything has its place, and NOTHING had better change. This goes beyond large pieces of furniture. We’re talking everything – pictures on dressers, decorations on counters, etc. I actually had a situation a few weeks ago where he managed to get himself trapped behind the vacuum, and could not figure how to escape.
Watch out Gracie, it’s raining Little Bits…. Or, another way to say it, if Little Bit is sitting on the couch with me, and decides to get down, he does not know Gracie is sleeping by my feet. We then have a cat on dog situation – and before long everyone is upset.
I also have to keep an eye on where he is. On more than on occasion I’ve managed to run into him.
That’s all I have time for today….
Mark
Author
Topic: Living with a blind cat (Read 240 times)