Possible Blindness in my 16 Year old Cat?

Hi, I'm just really posting for some advice. Basically my 16 year old female cat is showing signs of sight failure. We've only noticed it very recently- she seems quite unsteady and can't seem to see things that are right in front of her very well (when I put a finger in front of her face and move it slowly she doesn't seem to see it or follow it). She also can't see food when it's in front of her and you have to put it literally under her nose for her to realise it's there. Our other two cats, whom she's never got along with, have noticed also and keep hitting her and just being generally mean. My brother last night tested her with a torch to see if she responded to the light, but she didn't seem to- there was no blinking or squinting at all. Her pupils do react, but not as well as they should- her right pupil is also very slightly larger than her left.

I've also noticed that she's become very withdrawn over the past few weeks- she's been spending hours in the same place i.e. on my brother's bed or in places she doesn't usually go, but we just thought that as she was getting older this wasn't really too unusual. She's still been eating and drinking as usual, but I have noticed that she's washing quite excessively and I'm wondering if it's due to the stress of being unable to see so well?

Also, about 2 or 3 weeks ago we had to take her to the vet as I'd found some small ticks on her ears and head. We treated her and the other cats with Frontline before we took her, but we'd heard about Lyme Disease and we wanted to be sure nothing like that would happen to her. The vet did a brief examination on her and found her to be in good health, just giving her an anti-inflammatory for the bites and skin irritation. All that seems to have calmed down now so I'm doubting it has much to do with this.

(She's also asthmatic and is on Ventolin if that's at all relevant.) 

I'm just really looking for your opinions on this. Do you think it's her old age or could there be something that we need to get checked out? I guess because it was such a short time ago we last took her to the vet and they didn't pick anything up I just don't want to have to put her through that stress if it's unnecessary. She tends to get extremely stressed about going to the vet and will cry and soil herself when in the cat carrier so I obviously am very hesitant to put her through that if there's nothing too out of ordinary for a cat of her age. But I obviously don't want to not go if it's something that could be potentially life threatening.

Thanks in advance,

-PianoAshes

My 19 year old cat had similar issues.  We noticed as he was walking around the house, he stopped walking straight through a room and would instead follow the walls around.  When you took her to the vet did you mention this?  As my cat aged he developed cataracts which is a common occurrence as anyone ages.  I can't tell you exactly what your cat's issue is but losing her sight due to age is definitely a possibility.

Also, I just noticed your icon.  I love Okami!! 

^ Aww.. No, a few weeks ago we hadn't noticed any real change. So whether her sight has just got progressively worse or whether it's happened suddenly I'm not sure. It's just upsetting not knowing how much of my face she can see anymore and it all happening in such a short space of time. I don't think she has Cataracts, though- her eyes are bright and clear. The only noticeable thing is that her pupils are quite large and her right is slightly larger than the other. 

Ah! Yay! Okami is one of my absolute favourite games!! ^.^

Hi there.  Both of my previous cats lost their sight gradually as they ages, and for very different reasons.

Sight can be affected by quite a large number of common conditions, and is often one of the few outward indications of an underlying health issue so it is very important to have a chat with your vet again and draw to their attention what you have noticed with her pupils, behaviour including grooming, and the drinking water.

If cats loose their sight gradually they can get used to the change so other than any alteration in the appearance of their eyes it would be hard to tell.  

One of my girls lost her sight due to lots of tiny growths which developed on her retinas and her brain when  she was 17.  There were no other signs of anything wrong until 2 days before she crossed the bridge.   The other girl lost her sight as a result of high blood pressure which was picked up when I took her along to the vet to ask about her sight.  She also had kidney damage, probably as a result of the high blood pressure also, although it can happen the other way round with kidney problems causing the blood pressure to rise.  By the time I took her along to the vet they said her blood pressure was so high they couldn't believe she hadn't had a massive stroke.  With blood pressure medication I had my baby with me for a further 4 years! 

Conditions like diabetes can also affect sight.   Please take your cat along for another check up to be sure there isn't anything else going on - this may be a sign that helps you to start treatment that will keep her healthy for years to come.

 

This is Pal when she had started to loose her sight due to high blood pressure.  her pupils were not cloudy though it looks like they were here.  She had a slight reaction to light initially but lost that with time. 
Snowleopard's pupils were also clear, and difficult to photograph as they would always reflect light back.  Her pupils did not react at all to light.  She ran and jumped like a kitten so you would never know she was blind from watching her.  She also beat her sister up and bullied her on a regular basis....

Aww! Your two cats are so sweet! I think we will be taking Litsy to the vet- she's really quite restless today, poor love. I'm just terrified it may be untreatable, 

I'm pleased you are going along to your vet with her.  Honestly, even if her sight is reduced or lost, the chances are that she will carry along just fine and continue to compensate with all of her other senses.  Sight is not as important to cats as it is to humans,: as I mentioned above, Snowleopard was blind, she had no sight by the time I noticed and yet she was running about, leaping and jumping just as she always had.  Occasionally if I moved something and she was leaping about she would knock in to it (which is how I picked up on her blindness).  She was not bothered by it at all.  The important thing is that any underlying health issue that is causing the sight issue is detected and treated.   If I hadn't taken Pal to the vet when I noticed her sight going I would never have had my last 4 years with her, and they were very very special years.  Think positive as most causes are treatable / able to be managed and controlled even if the sight can not be restored.

Good vibes for the vet appointment, and if possible do let us know how you and Litsy get on.   Cute name by the way.   

I'm sad to say that our darling Litsy had to be put to sleep shortly after the appointment. Apparently she'd gone completely blind due to bleeding in the retina. She also had a heart murmur and the vet thought the things were beginning to pack up for her. She was going to have some tests done, but she stopped eating and after explaining the situation with the other cats picking on her along with her disinterest in her favourite food the vet said it would probably be best if we let her go.

It's been so sad not having her around. She was such a special cat who will always have a special place in our hearts.

I'm so sorry.  She was absolutely beautiful, BTW.  RIP Litsy!