Blind Kitten playing with other kittens..

I have had my blind kitty for 3 days now, and he is adjusting so well! He has realized there is more to the house than the safe room we made for him, and cries at the gate when he is alone. He is exploring the kitchen right now, with Joey my kitten who is 2 weeks old than Billy. We are being careful to block any potentially dangerous areas, but he is loving exploring and playing.

I am trying to reach out to people who have experience with having a blind kitty that plays with other kitties. Billy was born blind, so he is totally used to being blind, and the girl who was getting rid of him said she saw him play with his siblings a little bit...so we let him and Joey play together once they got used to being in the same room...and it seems to be going well.
I am just a worrier I think and I am not sure if I should. Joey and Billy jump on each other, roll around together etc...I have seen Joey and our 1 yr old cat Katie play this way. So I know it is typical kitten play. I just worry because Billy can't see it coming sometimes, and sometimes Joey paws at his face and dominates the play.
Joey isn't trying to harm Billy at all, his pawing is completely him playing. And Billy paws right back and can give it right back to Joey. But Billy sometimes cries while they are playing. Not his typical distress cry or anything, just a slight cry and usually they will stop for a minute and resume playing again.
I was just wondering if anyone has had experience with this, and if you all think that Billy is enjoying this play and not being harmed by it. Sometimes I forget he cant see because he plays a lot of the time as if he has no problems...but when he cries out it concerns me.
(When Joey and Katie play, I sometimes hear cries, I just worry about Billy more because he can't see and I dont want him getting hurt....I am probably being a worryer for nothing but I thought I would as on here!)

Thanks for any advice. Billy is alone most of the night and by morning is so ready for some human and cat action, and I can tell he really likes being around Joey, so I don't want to separate them unless it seems to be too much for Billy so soon.

Blind kitties have extra sensitive smell, hearing, and feeling (through their paws and legs) senses. It wouldn't surprise me if he uses these to help him maneuver and navigate. I would guardedly watch them as they play and if you see it's getting too rough or he's getting beat on, then separate them. I think that one of your other kitties will soon become his best bud and become his eyes and will start looking out for him.

As they play, just watch to be sure they're not hurting each other or drawing blood. The cry is like a warning signal to the other cat. Of course, my older cat is a total wuss when it comes to play. She's all growl and hiss and no action!

It's good to be cautious until he settles in, but after that, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at what he can do and how he'll blossom.

If they stop when he cries that shows that he is given time to get back into the game. A cry simply means 'that's enough' or 'you are playing too rough.' If they didn't go right back to playing it would be different or he acted hurt, if he doesn't want to play any more he will not stay around or be an active part of the play. Many cats cry and make all sorts of noises during play. Nuts however is just mean, he wouldn't/doesn't let go of Attitude when he bites her, and she cries and he ignores her. She finally had enough and stood up for herself, now he only does it right after she has a bath or she comes back from the vet(I'm assuming because she doesn't smell right.)

If he has been blind since birth he knows how to move around and doesn't even realize that he is in anyway different from other cats and that they can see and he can't. Same as a human born blind, they don't know any different. You learn to move around as you grow so you know it from the beginning, as I said you don't know anything different. It's different if you are sighted and then go blind. Animals also don't rely on sight as much as humans, it's not their primary sense like it is in people, smell is more important to animals, thus why your other animals get riled up when another one gets back from the vet or have been bathed, they don't smell right. Also notice they smell their litterbox both before and after they use it, dogs do the same thing, also why you have to use enzyme cleaner after a pet accident, the smell. Cats also have more active and pronounced whiskers. Like I said he learned as he grew how to get along without sight, he doesn't know anything else or even that he is supposed to be able to see. Going blind is harder than being born that way.

Let them play, treat him the same as you would a sighted cat. If you wouldn't separate 2 sighted cats then I wouldn't separate them. Remember Billy doesn't know he's blind, he also doesn't need sight to know a cat(or anyone else) is near him, he can use his other senses which as I said are more important than sight, like I said smell and hearing are more important.

Abby my Old English sheepdog went blind and was fine as long as nothing was moved, she quickly learned 2 new commands stop ,and turn, that was in case something was moved. She knew when someone was near her, she could smell you there and she knew who was there because of her smell, she could also hear you approaching.

Taryn

I know I already mentioned it before, but if you had a chance to either visit Gwen Coopers' web site, or read her book, Homer's Odyssey, I think you'd enjoy it - apparently there are more people out there with blind cats then you would think.

Homer was blind since being a very young kitten. He also vocalizes when his playmates wander off. When Homer was younger, apparently he was a phenomenal jumper, and nothing ever backed that kitty off - he actually went after a burglar one evening. Homer has two big sisters, too.

I have read some of her blogs, and if I cant find the book at the library Saturday when I go, I plan on ordering it online. I cannot wait to read it!! I think I have said it a million times, but Billy is amazing. He amazes my husband and I each day with the things he can do! He is so smart and I am just so proud of him. Today after he got back into "his room" when I was done cleaning it, he went straight to use his box, eat his food, and right up to the couch to nap in his favorite spot...like he has been doing it forever and not just since Sunday!

He's going to flourish in your home! I'm so excited you adopted him. Please keep us posted on his progress and antics.

Please do - it'll be like having our own Homer right here! Did you read about how Gwen's Homer has now figured out how to get out of a zipped cat carrier, as well as open the bathroom door?

I bet if your library doesn't have the book, they can order it from another library...is there a library in this country that doesn't have at least one librarian who's a 'cat lady'?

It's reading stories like yours and Gwen's that may give people the courage to adopt a special needs cat - although your boy sounds more like he's just special, not challenged at all! But I think Gwen had a lot of your concerns as well when she first got Homer, as would be normal - but look at both Homer and your Billy now!

For inspiration and to see how wonderfully well blind cats and kittens get on, please look at this site:

http://blindcatrescue.com/Lily.html

To see the other cats and kittens, click on the link on the left hand side of the page.

Check out the video of Lily and another blind kitten playing with a ball.

Truly marvellous and awe-inspiring.

This shelter needs help. They are trying to win two competitions. You can find them on Facebook. Look at their "Notes" page for instructions on voting for them.

I've voted and also put them on my Facebook profile.

I found that site on facebook and love it. I think it is amazing what they do for blind kitties I voted for them in the contest, and made a status to try to get my friends too also, I want them to win that money!!

Update on Billy,
He is doing AWESOME. He is such a great boy. A little smaller than I would like, he weighed in at just 1lb 4oz at the vet, so we are trying to fatten him up a little...he still is so small. He is playing like crazy. My husband is amazed at how Billy can jump on Joey and know exactly where he is...Billy & Joey have been playing together regularly, and sleeping together on the couch. I love it!