Old blind cat and impending move into new house

josh kimmelman

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
May 8, 2014
Messages
4
Purraise
1
Scooter is our sweet, gentile old man.  He's around 17 and is blind, and definitely showing signs of age.  However, we have taken him to two vets, and they both say he is healthy.  Scooter can get around our apartment fine, but we are about to move into a much large new house.  

Is there anything we can do to make this major change easier for him?  It is gonna be tough on the old guy to adjust, but we are willing to do whatever it takes so he can play in our big backyard in the final phase of his life.  We're looking for any suggestions we can get.  Thanks in advance!
 

ritz

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Apr 2, 2010
Messages
4,656
Purraise
282
Location
Annapolis, MD
Although Ritz is much younger than Scooter and not blind, I faced similar concerns about two years ago when I moved from the top floor of a condo building to a single family, ground floor townhouse. The condo was the only place she'd know since I adopted her.
I placed the furniture in the new house in the same relative position as was in the old condo, to the extent possible. The same end tables were in the same place next to the same sofa. The same dresser in the bedoom remained across from the same bed, old and new place.
Cats in general, and perhaps blind cats especially, go a lot by smell and sound. No doubt your cat can find his food without fail! In Ritz' case, although the litter box was the same, it had to be put in a different room: she found/smell that without any incident!
Definitely keep some of the old furniture, dresser scarfs, food bowls, any of her pet beds, blankets, with the same smells. At least initially, now is not the time to get new furniture and new linen.
Out of curiousity, does the new place have stairs, steps? Did the old place?
One of the hardest adjustments Ritz had to make was the sound of traffic: being on the top floor of the condo building, she saw cars but never heard them (except for the occasional car alarm). For the first week or two in my new townhouse, when she was sitting on my lap and a car drove by, she darted under the sofa. She got use to it, though. And loves loves loves all the windows she can look out of and see the birds, squirrels, Peter the Rabbit, Charlie the Chipmunk, Dora the Deers, and Arent the Fox.
@StephenQ stephenq stephenq has a blind cat from birth who might be able to give you additional hints; hopefully she'll see this post.
Good luck and let us know how it goes. I know I worried a lot, but Ritz was/is fine.
 

di and bob

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 12, 2012
Messages
16,582
Purraise
22,961
Location
Nebraska, USA
I would say the most important thing would to be nearby to offer comfort and support. He is going to feel overwhelmed at first, so try not to let him feel abandoned. You may want to confine him to one room for now so he can quickly adjust to that one, and then let him go from there. It will take a little time, but with your help he'll be fine! Good luck and give him a kiss for me!
 

stephenq

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jun 19, 2003
Messages
5,672
Purraise
944
Location
East Coast, USA
@Josh Kimmelman

What Di and Bob said is true, and i will build on that.  Blind cats obviously use their other senses, touch, smell, hearing being important, but they also use spatial memory.  And the one thing your cat won't be able to use in the new home is spatial memory because it will be all off, but the furniture will be familiar and that will be helpful.  My blind cat does fine in new houses when we take her on trips in part because I think she realizes she's in a different space and just starts exploring until she gets it.  It might even be easier in a new home then moving furniture around in an existing home.

We moved one small table about 6 months ago, and she still looks for it there with her paw....

Putting him in a small room at the beginning is a good idea, but if you do that and if you currently use only one litter box i am going to suggest that you use 2 for the move.  One for the small room, and then one in the permanent position outside that room assuming that the box in the small room isn't where its going to be permanently located.  Obviously you will want to introduce her to the food and litter boxes in the larger space when you let her out.

Talk to him a lot.  Blind cats know were nearby when we make noises.    Use a toy on a string to lead him safely around the spaces and help him find places he needs.

Good luck and keep us updated!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #5

josh kimmelman

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
May 8, 2014
Messages
4
Purraise
1
Thank you to everyone!  I'm already starting to use a small sleigh bell rattler to let him know where I am.  I can assure you that Scooter is very clingy to me.  He sleeps about five inches from my face in my bed, and in the evening just sits on my lap.  I plan on spending lots of time with him getting him adjusted to the new space.  But there is no doubt that once he feels that grass under his paws,  he will be the happiest little guy in the world!  I will definitely keep you all posted.
 

ritz

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Apr 2, 2010
Messages
4,656
Purraise
282
Location
Annapolis, MD
Bells work both ways: my friend is blind, and her cat Ashley wears a bell so she doesn't step on Ashley.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #7

josh kimmelman

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
May 8, 2014
Messages
4
Purraise
1
Ritz - our current home and the new one both have stairs.  Scooter knows his way up and down and is able to do so without difficulty.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #8

josh kimmelman

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
May 8, 2014
Messages
4
Purraise
1
STATUS REPORT!

I am overjoyed to report that Scooter has taken to his new home like a duck to water.  My wife and I are AMAZED by him every day.  The first few days were rough,  all he did was pace around and never sat still.  But one magical morning,  we awoke to see him cuddling with us in our bed -- on the second floor!  He now knows his way around the house, and certainly around the yard.  In fact, he's doing a bit too well, as he escaped our yard one night and we found him a block down the road, happy sitting on a neighbors yard.  

It took some help,  and lots of patience, but he is all settled.  The hardest part for him were the stairs.  It is a huge leap of faith for a blind cat to become acquainted with a staircase, but he knows them all now.   And since we've known this cat for 18 years, we know when he's happy, and he's definitely happy.  At the same hour each evening, Scooter gets on the couch with us as he always has.  But now, he nuzzles us non-stop, which is something he does when he's very happy.

Thank you to everyone for the help.  Here's the happy fellow below, engaging in his new favorite activity: playing in the grass!

 

stephenq

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jun 19, 2003
Messages
5,672
Purraise
944
Location
East Coast, USA
Congrats, so fantastic, very happy for you all!

When my blind cat goes to a new place she always explores until she knows it, then she settles down.
 

nabdan

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Jun 3, 2015
Messages
1
Purraise
1
Hi all,

My beloved old cat had to be operate and lost sight and eyes last year, despite very heavy surgery :(

We move soon to a new house and I'm happy to read that it went good for you guys :)

We love our cat and are so concerned by moving to a new place, hopefully we already moved from place, even country, so I do cross hard my finger for the best.

 

medeamagic

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Nov 20, 2011
Messages
47
Purraise
1
I am also glad to hear this move went well as I am moving from a one bedroom apt to a giant 2 floor home with my blind cat.
 
Top