Kitten - blind & no sense of smell

siameselove03 · Jul 17, 2014

Riley1 said:
Thank you Stephan for your reply. Her being blind is not the real problem. Blind kittens and cats do well even so. They don't know they are blind so they just make the best of things. My real concern is the lack of smell and not being able to lap up liquid. I have always feed her wet food with lots of water or KMR mixed in. They both get Royal Canin Babycat. As she would not get this expensive food at the shelter or once adopted, I tried to start moving to less expensive wet food. Even though I started slowly she stopped eating and became dehydrated. I talked with my vet today and she felt the kitten would be not be a up for adoption due to the many problems. She thinks she is brain damaged and may not be able to use her tongue. She did suck on a bottle like a normal kitten, however. This just breaks my heart! She is a very loving little girl and does not seem to be in pain. Plus she has fought so hard to stay alive. I would keep her myself but her brother would need to stay as well and my condo restricts to one pet. In addition they wold have to stay in one room most of the time due to the litter box problem and my resident cat. Is this fair to her healthy brother? People have been forced to sell, get rid of their animals or pay $250.00 per month for each animal over the one limit.

I was hoping someone knew something about this problem and could help me. Sadly, even if I got her to use the box, I don't think she would be able to find it consistently in a new home. I would rather let her go now than have her be returned several times when the adopter could no longer deal with the problems. I have asked the kennel manager to evaluate her as I am too close to this kitten to be objective.

If she needs to be put down I want her brother and I to be there until it is over so she is not stressed or afraid. If the shelter will not allow this I will ask if I can pay my own vet to do it. Sorry, this is making me cry.

Again thank you for responding; no one else did.

Diane

siameselove03 · Jul 17, 2014

Riley1 I am new to this site and I do care and so do many of us if not all do Here on this forum. Your story made me cry it is very sad and also stressful on you. I can't imagine how difficult this is for you and the kitten. Do not give her up for sure it takes the right kind of human to love and take care of a kitten with her problems. If you read my story you will see my cats problems we all have them here and we are here for each other... Don't cry I know its painful I feel your pain putting an animal to sleep would kill me so I feel for you...Research Google there has got to be help out there...I don't think the kitten has brain damage its more sensory nerve damage or sadly born with the issue....Hugs from me to you I'm here if you need to talk Pm me.

elise1030 · Jul 17, 2014

As for water, and not being able to smell it, what about a cat fountain with running water, so she can hear it and get a sense of where the water is?

riley1 · Jul 18, 2014

siameselove03 said:
Riley1 I am new to this site and I do care and so do many of us if not all do Here on this forum. Your story made me cry it is very sad and also stressful on you. I can't imagine how difficult this is for you and the kitten. Do not give her up for sure it takes the right kind of human to love and take care of a kitten with her problems. If you read my story you will see my cats problems we all have them here and we are here for each other... Don't cry I know its painful I feel your pain putting an animal to sleep would kill me so I feel for you...Research Google there has got to be help out there...I don't think the kitten has brain damage its more sensory nerve damage or sadly born with the issue....Hugs from me to you I'm here if you need to talk Pm me.

Thank you!

old cat lady · Jul 18, 2014

Bless you. You are her guardian angel. I have owned many special needs cats over the years and my worse one was the love of my life. Born with numerous birth defects, the worse being he couldn't walk, sit or stand. Needless to say he was always in the prone position unless I was holding him upright and hand-feeding or -watering, playing or just cuddling with him. Since he was unable to walk he had to wear diapers and spent a lot of time in a childs playard here in the living room. Anyway, I have had several cats in the past (and now) that won't use the litter box for any number of reasons all unbeknowst to us. Everyday is a challenge. We currently have 7 cats all in various stages of life. It can be very frustrating. Even though I grumble and complain about the carpet in every room I just tolerate it cause I love them so much. Shes had a huge adjustment to make. Not just simply a new home but having to find her way around all over again. Please be more patient with her and search other internet sites besides this one about suggestions for special needs cats. If you give her time, patience and lots of love she will reward you and the payoff will be awesome. Good luck from my many needy cats.

old cat lady · Jul 22, 2014

I have experience with special needs cats and I wonder where you might live. I am in Michigan. If nothing else, look up petfinder on the web and look for cats. You will get tons of shelters all that are no kill. I just know given the opportunity that she would do well. As far as not being able to drink, a diet in canned food is one big help but another alternative is to give daily sub q iv's to keep her hydrated. I have done this before and its not expensive, not time consuming (maybe 15 min) and definitely not difficult. It doesnt go in a vein, just under the skin. If she is healthy in every other way and happy it seems unfair to put her down. At least confirm that she can't use her tongue. I think if that were the case she wouldnt be able to eat either. I just think if this baby stands a chance I hate to see her lose out. Let me know where you are.

old cat lady · Jul 22, 2014

I had a cat born very mentally challenged due to many different birth defects and you always seem to figure things out. You know yourself and if this is just too much to take on then you should follow your heart. We have all been in your shoes at least once and it is so unfair. It may be possible to work out the litter box issue. If water is put right next to food then he would learn it was there and depend on that. The other person mentioned a fountain, great idea! If the kitty can eat he should be able to drink too. Could be kitty is a bit mentally challenged but once settled in and adjusted like any new cat he may do great. Im sorry you are being so stressed out. I would be sick about it if it were my decision. If there is anyway I can help, feel free to send me a message. I would love to talk to you more about this if youre up to it. My thoughts are with you. Please keep us posted.

riley1 · Jul 23, 2014

elise1030 said:
As for water, and not being able to smell it, what about a cat fountain with running water, so she can hear it and get a sense of where the water is?

At first I thought this would be a good idea as well but the problem is not being able to find the water. She does not lap

old cat lady said:
I had a cat born very mentally challenged due to many different birth defects and you always seem to figure things out. You know yourself and if this is just too much to take on then you should follow your heart. We have all been in your shoes at least once and it is so unfair. It may be possible to work out the litter box issue. If water is put right next to food then he would learn it was there and depend on that. The other person mentioned a fountain, great idea! If the kitty can eat he should be able to drink too. Could be kitty is a bit mentally challenged but once settled in and adjusted like any new cat he may do great. Im sorry you are being so stressed out. I would be sick about it if it were my decision. If there is anyway I can help, feel free to send me a message. I would love to talk to you more about this if youre up to it. My thoughts are with you. Please keep us posted.

Thank you for your response. The little girl can use her tongue as she can groom herself but eats by scooping the food with her mouth rather than using her tongue. She shovels until her nose is covered with food. I wipe her off and she eats again. This goes on for 8-9 times. I covered the whole room with litter boxes (10) but this does not help. I try to put her in the box when caught in the act. She is 15-16 weeks old and just made 2 pounds. Her brother is twice her size but I will not separate them. I am still waiting for the shelter to make a decision. If they adopt her out they must be sure the adopter is aware of all her special needs as I would not want them returned several times. SubQ fluids are not an option because she is quite the fighter and most adopters would not be willing to do this.

old cat lady · Jul 25, 2014

With my experience with special needs kitties, I would be more than willing to do whatever it took, as I am home all day. Its unfortunate I am not able to come get the kitty. My most recent experience was with a very mentally challenged kitten not able to sit, stand or walk. He had numerous birth defects including CH. He wore diapers and I had to hand feed and water him. When I rescued him at 6 mo the vet could not get over that he had made it that long and warned me not to get attached as his days were surely numbered. He was a happy cuddly kitty who not long ago died just 2 weeks shy of his 4th bday. Good luck. Wish I could help more.

riley1 · Jan 10, 2015

Update on Kitten: I got little GrayCee doing quite well after a time. By feeding her wet cat food with water she seemed OK. I really tried everything with little box training; failed & hoped the shelter could do better. She stayed in the shelter manager's office for months and they thought they had success- not so sure about that. A facebook story was written and she was ready for adoption as a "special" needs. Right as she was going up I got a call that she was found in distress, went to the vet. The wanted to put her down immediately due to her condition. They would wait if I wanted to be there. I just could not go & did not want her to have to wait.

The vet confirmed that she was both blind & could not smell & her life would be miserable. They thought she had FIP dry form and were surprised that she had made it 7 months. Thought you guys would want to know.

RIP Tiny Dancer (GrayCee)

PS: Her brother got a wonderful home. The adopter thanked me for being willing to part with him.

animal house · Mar 2, 2015

Hi - Hoping you can give me some tips on litter training a blind used-to-be feral cat with no sense of smell.

riley1 · Mar 8, 2015

Sorry for the late reply. I have been on vacation. Are you sure that the cat can not smell? The vets I talked with at the time said that they had never encountered one & that there was no documented cases. My kitten was brain damaged. Her vision would come & go a little. I tested her smell with a can of sardines. Her little brother could not wait to get it. She had symptoms similar to the dry form of FIP but I don't think she had it.

animal house · Mar 12, 2015

Actually - I have discovered he does have a sense of smell. It doesn't seem as strong as a normal cat. However, I have had no luck getting him to use the litter.

My biggest challenge with him is coming soon. I am moving and want to move him as well. I certainly will not just leave him.

Hoping you can provide some advise. Here is the back story.

I have been caring for him for a number of years. I TNR'd him. He has a heated, insulated house outside that has been in exactly the same spot for years. He has also been feed and has water - all outside and all where he is used to finding it. He has lost has sight over time and is now completely blind.

I can bring him into one room of my current house, from a door wall that opens to let's call it the porch of his house.

He has become very affectionate only in the last few weeks and loves to cuddle. I kept him in a few days to see if he would adjust to living indoors easily. He didn't use the litter, and he didn't eat-which is why I thought he couldn't smell.

So - now the move issue. Current plan is to try to recreate the environment he is used to - cat house just outside a door wall, food and water in same directions and space -- but to completely enclose his entire outdoor environment in fencing of sorts.

Any ideas to help make this plan work would be greatly appreciated. Obviously, I'd like to make it as stress free for him as possible.

Oh - and I have four indoor cats (one of which came in at 8 years old after TNR) and a large dog. In the warmer months, the blind cat interacts with all of them to some degree through the screen door.

Thanks for any advise!

riley1 · Mar 15, 2015

Sounds like you have a good plan. Have you tried Cat Attract Litter? There is book enclosed that gives about 20 tips for getting them to use the litter box. Sadly my little girl never did use it but being blind with no sense of smell was a big problem. Also, she seemed just like she was not going to do it. i tried everything, including locking her in a small cage. She used it in the cage but would throw herself at the bars to get out. This was too sad for me to handle. As long as he can smell you should use the litter box; this is instinct. Are there other cats around that may be upsetting him? Cats peeing outside the box is usually a cry for help. Maybe he can't deal with the inside situation.

As far as the food, are you warming it up? It might be hard to go from catching mice to eating food in a bowl.. Is it canned? I think you would have better luck with canned.

Good Luck & let us know how it goes.

Kitten - blind & no sense of smell

siameselove03

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elise1030

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old cat lady

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animal house

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