Anyone have a 1-eyed cat? Iris melanoma

My 8-year-old cat, Maui, needs to have his eye removed due to iris melanoma.  I'm curious if anyone else has gone through this, and can share your experiences.  I'd also like to hear from those with a 1-eyed cat if there are any specific issues we will have to deal with (can he still jump up on bed, etc?)

Thanks!

I dub all my "one eye's" as Captain Jack ;b

They do recover well, especially if the eye globe removal (enucleation) was before any trauma, increased pressure, proptosis, nerve damage, or deep ruptured ulcer.

They do still jump. Whiskers help with gauging the distance and depth perception.

They often still have some muscle movement, such as moving their brow and the whiskers above the eye socket.

The orbit's skin that is sutured over after enucleation can be itchy, even years later, as it's in a recessed area that the cat can't clean/paw at. Some really appreciate a good rubbing right over that empty orbit, and you may see them rubbing their face into the rug, along the corner of the couch, etc just to help with the itch.

Keeping them from pawing the face post-op is the most important thing, so they don't traumatize the surgery site while it heals.

Cold compresses feel oh so good to that swollen area! Investing in a small cold pack you can freeze that is flexible/malleable is a good value. Package of frozen peas can work as well. 3 or 4 times a day helps with inflammation also.

Hit by Car impact and attacked by dog trauma are the only times I've seen an enucleation with some damaged lacrimal gland tissue that was difficult to fully remove as it's in pieces and can't all be located. Then, the bits of gland remaining can still secrete tears that are sterile, and slowly accumulate in the orbit, needing to be removed via aspiration periodically (once to twice a month), even after a repeat surgery to try to find all the little pieces of glandular tissue.

This usually isn't a concern with a planned enucleation, non-trauma related, as yours sounds like it would be.

The optic nerve is cut. It's painful. Good pain management is crucial to good recovery.

Good luck with your future "Captain Jack"  Arrrrrgh ;]

Thank you for the info.  I feel so bad for my kitty boy, but I'm sure he'll make a great One-eyed Jack!

My vet has one. He is famous.

https://www.facebook.com/FriendWillieHodge

Well, he had his surgery yesterday, and all went well.  He's home and resting. HATES it when I try to give him liquid pain meds and antibiotics, but other than that, he already seems to be adapting pretty well.  I've been calling him "Frankenkitty", since that stitched up area is sort of gory-looking right now, but within a couple weeks, they'll be out and the hair will grow over it. I'm kind of amazed how something as major as having an eye removed wasn't nearly as horrible (knock on wood) as I expected. :0

Btw...he has a Facebook page now.  It's "Maui Popoki" if anyone wants to follow him.  Thanks all!

Yay! and congrats on a successful surgery for your own 'One-Eyed Jack" Maui!  They do indeed look very "zipper-like" over that eye Frankenkitty-style when fresh post-op, no doubt. Take some cool pix, they're fun when your baby is an old crotchety one eyed devil, passing around to everyone, "Hey, remember this?!"  Well, even when an ole sweet one eyed angel many years later, still interesting nostalgic moment, after sharing the rest of their life with you as a one-eyed pet who compensates so well and lives life to the fullest!

Attached is a pic of my one-eyed wonder pup who was an excellent patient for monthly orbital fluid aspiration due to a damaged retained lacrimal gland, pieces of glandular tissue retained after 3 surgical repairs including enucleation, and slowly fluid productive. Lived to the ripe age of 17. Also a tripod, forelimb amputee. My heart, first dog partner in life.