Cat Went Blind After Surgery

My six month old kitten was recently spayed and when we got her back she was acting funny. We took her to the vet on Saturday and they confrimed that she is blind. The said they were sorry it happend and they don't know why. It is supposed to be one of the best pet hospitals in town (Cedar Rapids, IA). It's now just a waiting game to see if she gets any sight back. Has anyone ever heard of this?? What should I do??

I have heard of it, but that is about the extent of my knowledge. It has something to do with the anesthesia used & the amounts, possibly?

I'm sorry your baby is blind. If I am remembering right...there is a chance that she might gain her sight back? If she does not, feel free to PM me or ask me any questions about having a blind cat. I have one myself & would be more than willing to help in any way I can.

I believe there was a thread a few months ago concerning someone's cat that went blind after a dental cleaning. Their cat was lucky, if I remember correctly, and did get it's sight back.

It's rather odd that they say they do not know why it happened.

I'm sorry you and your kitten are going through this. Hugs to you and kitty

I can't recall...but it seems that sudden blindness and/or deafness or similar things appearing after surgery do have something to do w/the anaesthesia, like Natalie said. They didn't mention having to 'revive' her afterwards, did they? I agree that it's a little odd that they "don't know what happened".

I would push them a bit more to get an answer. It would be important to know if a reaction like this could be expected again, if she needs to be put under for any routine or emergency events in the future.

It is scary. I hope she regains her sight and you can get some answers.

I'm sorry to hear about your kitty. That's so sad! I've heard of this happening because of the anesthetic but I've never heard whether or not their site can come back. It's actually a side affect and when you sign a release for surgery, it is listed in there. Have you asked your vet about the possiblity of the site coming back? Maybe a phone call is in order.

OK, I went & found the thread on the other kitty who went blind after surgery. Here is the link.

I would definitely try to get more info because they are supposed to have people monitoring the kitties when they are under anesthesia. Someone was watching her.

I pray your kitty gets her sight back. A friend of mine has a blind cat and she's just as playful as all get out - but with bell toys.

Originally Posted by Renovia

I pray your kitty gets her sight back. A friend of mine has a blind cat and she's just as playful as all get out - but with bell toys.

Click to expand...

That's exactly how Damita is. It is unfortunate that kitties are blind or go blind, but they can live wonderful, happy lives as well.

I have no experience with this, but I'm sending good vibes that she gets her sight back!

I just got a call from the vet about Leya. She had called an optomitrist at Iowa State....anyway...I asked her a few questions and she said the surgery had no complications and she thinks that she had "a bad reaction" or low blood pressure at some point. The doc from Iowa State says I have 2-5 weeks to really know how she will turn out. So far she's 100% blind after 1 week today.

I do have one other question though for those of you with blind cats. She isn't doing the greatest with the litter box anymore. She used to be really finicky about using the box all the time, but now she seems to miss the litter box by about a foot radius??? She will pee in the box and poo beside it? Any clue on what I should do. I have the lid of the cat box off right now so she can find the box and not worry about finding the hole to get in. I plan to put it back on at some point, could this be why she is missing the box? Because it doesn't have a lid?

if she can find the box to pee, then she can find the box to poo. i'd try a second litter box right next to the first one. Maybe she wants two different ones.

my friend's cat who is blind has this same issue, it will find the box to pee but poop next to it. she has two litter boxes, but she also has two cats. she hasn't gotten a third box yet.

Thats so sad. I have never in my life heard of that happening. I hope you can get some answers. You and your kitty are in my thoughts.

my goodness. How awful...poor kitty, just think waking up am suddenly not being able to see or know what's going on. Sending prayers your way

Maybe it will just take her time to adjust to the litter box again. Right now she is like a fish out of water and her life is a bit off balance. I read in the other thread about a cat that went blind after surgery, that cat had litter box problems for a little while too.

I am sorry to hear about your kitty. I hope that with time, she will again regain her site. I also have a friend with a blind kitty and she has done very well without her site..just some time for adjustment to know their way around. Good luck to you and your kitty. Sending <<healing vibes>> to her from us.

I would suggest Cat Attract litter. Here is a link to it. Also, I'd get a low sided box so that she can easily get in & out. If the box is on carpet or she messes on the carpet, clean it with a special pet stain remover...an enzymatic one. That will get rid of the spot completely.

I am so sorry... this just breaks my heart. I am sending prayers your way that kitty gets her site back.

has the vet taken responsibility/owned up to any of this? Have they offered any support?

So far Leya is doing good, she has started running around and enjoying life again. Her and our other cat are playing again. She is so smart! She will run until the last step before running into the wall. I am truely amazed with the adaptability of cats!!! She is still 100% blind and I'm slowly loosing hope her sight will return. Her pupils dialate very little now, but before she wouldn't even blink with a doctors lite shining in her eye. I know that doesn't mean she can see, I believe someone wrote something about that before. UH! I hate this waiting game, I wish I could just get a yes or no answer. Of course it doesn't matter what she turns out as, we're going to keep her no matter what, she's a lovely cat.

Oh!!! She figured out how to get on and off the bed all on her own last night!!! I'm so happy for her!!!