Sudden Blindness in Geriatric Cat

I went to put Putty's food down last night, and realized she couldn't find it. She's always had a terrible sense of smell, I'll put a piece of food on the ground and she frantically looks for it even though it's inches from her nose).

But I checked her out, and she's blind as a bat!

Her eyes are a bit cloudy, but I didn't really notice a slow progression, it seems pretty sudden.

She's 18 or so, she's been slowing down and sleeping more, but until now, otherwise in good health. She has a high metabolism, she's always skinny and pretty skittish (in spite of being born here and never even close to mistreated by anyone).

I don't think she's taking it well, she's bumping into things, her instincts are not great for finding her way around. She's been curled up on top of a heat vent in the kitchen -- her usual spot come fall and winter, which is why nothing seemed amiss when she stopped jumping up to sleep on her chair.

I'm assuming it's Feline Hypertension judging from the feedback to date, and because a few weeks ago she did have blood in her eye. I was going to take her in then, but it disappeared the next day.

I could be wrong, but I suspect a thyroid problem only because at her previous 'senior cat' check up, two years ago now (I guess I skipped the 'annual', time flies when you're have fun). I seem to remember the vet mentioning a slightly 'off' thyroid reading, but it was dismissed, she was deemed very healthy. (Wish they would have mentioned the possible complications to watch out for).

If it was diabetes, would she be drinking a lot? She did just take a loooong drink, but I think that was more of an inability to find her water bowl before I put it down in front of her.

She's always been a very skinny, skittish cat. I recently started giving her NutriCal because she was eating her daughter's diet food.

I have to balance her diet with her daughter's -- her daughter is obese and allergic to EVERYTHING, I finally found a wet/dry combo that works for her (Felidae dry, Wellness Turkey and Technical Weight Control wet). They all pick at their food (especially Putty, who never eats much when you first put it down) and eat each other's, so that part has been a nightmare. (I have a third gimped cat as well).

I'm thinking it may be time to introduce a raw food diet. Of course this is all happening when I'm FLAT broke (for the first time in years). But one must expect these things with old and gimped kitties. I've been relatively lucky to date.

I'm torn between going back to the vet who has her records, and going to another one that may be more asute. I started going to this clinic because they had a great vet there, but she's moved away, now the owner (who I think is a bozo) is the only one left.

My immediate question is what to feed her tonight and in the morning before going to the Vet.
Is canned better than dry? (If it matters, I have a little Feilidae left and Calif. Natural). If canned, would the Wellness Turkey better than the TechniCal Weight Control?

They don't list sodium content as far as I can tell.

The Vet with her records is a Science Diet cultist, he pushes the stuff like an evangelist, but I won't believe anybody who's being paid by the company, and this seems to be the case with most of the vets).

I'll add that Putty's daughter (a master food thief) can't eat anything with fish, and something else I can't quite figure out what it is, but it isn't in the Wellness Turkey, Techni-Cal Weight Control or the Felindae Kitten and Cat Chicken and Rice dry food. I have tried EVERYTHING else.

All feedback appreciated!

sas and putty

Originally Posted by sasnpipp

My immediate question is what to feed her tonight and in the morning before going to the Vet.
Is canned better than dry? (If it matters, I have a little Feilidae left and Calif. Natural). If canned, would the Wellness Turkey better than the TechniCal Weight Control?

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I would feed her whatever she will eat tonight and tomorrow. If one is easier for her to find, go with that one. Otherwise, I'd probably feed the canned (but I'm a big fan of canned for all senior kitties especially).

How helpful is it to have the blood panel from two years ago on hand? Still trying to make the decision re: going back to the previous clinic or taking her to my rabbit vet (whom I assume also treats cats).

sas and putty

Stop by your old vet's office and ask for the records. If they ask, tell the truth.

Make sure to call the vet you're using for your rabbit before you assume, though you're probably right since cats and rabbits both fall under the small animal category. Or if you're in/near a fairly decent sized city you can look for a cat only clinic.

It would be useful to have old records if you're switching vets. I think the law requires them to provide the records upon request, and they can't charge more than a nominal fee for photocopies.

I agree, get a copy of the records, decide where you feel most comfortable, but do get her in. I agree with your hunch that this may be due to hypertension - the bleeding into the eye is a telling sign (something I've been through with my oldest who is a comparable age).

The hypertension is more likely to go along with a kidney issue, fairly common at this age, and the hyperthyroidism (many feel the norms are for adult cats, not seniors, so that one wants a lower number than some vets feel is okay..in my case, my vet and I simply tracked the changes in my Patrick (RB), seeing that they were going up each time, we began to treat him prior to a number considered abnormal) can actually mask kidney issues. Resolving the hyperthyroidism can expose the kidney issues..you still have to treat the hyperthyroidism, but it's a balancing act (one my poor vet has had to do with my kitties before).

Right now, Id feed her a wet diet - find one low in phosphorus (you can check the lists that jmpeerson has -even though they are for diabetic kitties, they also list phosphorous content...you want a phos content of under 1. See the crf sticky thread for a lot more info and good links - the felinecrf.org discusses the issue of hyperthyroidism and crf, as well as loss of vision due to retina's detaching, etc).

We went to the vet, Putty had very high blood pressure but the blood panel has come back all clear. All her kidney and thyroid levels were nothing to be concerned about.

I'm not impressed with the vet, for $250, all she did is shrug. Even with support questions like diet.

She's referred me to an eye specialist, I think just the visit is $250, and I"m not sure what they can tell me, I think the question is still what caused the hypertension. I'm half thinking about seeing another regular vet, but I dunno.

Putty is still blind. She's on hypertension meds. What are the chances the retinas will reattach? And what can an eye doctor do about finding the cause and treating hypertension?

sas and putty

Originally Posted by sasnpipp

What are the chances the retinas will reattach?

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Sometimes retinas can be surgically reattached in humans, but I don't know whether anyone is doing this for animals or if it's even an viable option (as in, would it be too much for a cat to handle). They will not reattach on their own.

Originally Posted by strange_wings

Sometimes retinas can be surgically reattached in humans, but I don't know whether anyone is doing this for animals or if it's even an viable option (as in, would it be too much for a cat to handle). They will not reattach on their own.

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As I understand it, if the detachment is due to high bp, and the retinas do not reattach within a day or two, prognosis for return of vision is poor..meaning, prompt treatment of high bp, gives your cat a chance for the retinas to reattach.

Anecdotally, this has been the case with some of the kitties on the crf support list I am on.