Kitty is having a eye enucleation. Freaking out.

aangone

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Jul 28, 2015
Messages
8
Purraise
1
My poor 7 month old kitten had an accident a few weeks ago that caused the lens inside his eye to detach. We have tried everything we could in our power and financial state to save his eye, however, his eye will have to be removed to prevent further pain, and infection or sarcomas.
I'm heartbroken as he is my baby, and I rescued him off the side of the road at 5 weeks and nursed him to health. I'm scared to death to drop him off Saturday morning because it's sort of a major surgery and I'm scared of complication, though I have complete faith in my vet.
Any advice on what to expect when he comes home, and ways to make him comfortable while he recovers would be greatly appreciated.
 
Last edited:
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #2

aangone

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Jul 28, 2015
Messages
8
Purraise
1
Especially if anyone has seen their pet immediately after the surgery.
My vet does not have staff on overnights to monitor him so they would check him before they left at 7pm and when they got there at 8am the next day. They said if I felt more comfortable, however, I can take him home the same day before they close and bring him back in the morning and was warned it would look rather horrible and a little bloody.
As of now, I have decided to pull up my big girl pants and take him home for the night so I can keep and eye on him because I feel a bit more comfortable knowing someone will be watching him, and he won't be alone.
 
Last edited:

stephanietx

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 1, 2005
Messages
14,768
Purraise
3,490
Location
Texas
It's not a pretty sight right after surgery, but he will heal and he'll do great with only one eye.  He won't even know it's missing and you'll soon forget he's only got one eye! 
 

catsnip404

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Nov 16, 2015
Messages
131
Purraise
54
Hi Aangone, my kitty had to have her eye removed due to Melanoma (there was dark pigment starting to show up, and turned out it was cancer).  

It was a freaky thought for me too, and broke my heart for her, but it all went fine.  I didn't see her IMMEDIATELY after the surgery, so she was cleaned up by the time I picked her up.  She did have to wear one of those plastic cone collars for some time (maybe a week to 10 days?) afterwards, and that seemed to be the toughest part for her.  She gets around fine with one eye, and can jump up on stuff no problem.  She just looks like she has a permanent wink.  ;)  

 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #5

aangone

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Jul 28, 2015
Messages
8
Purraise
1
Thanks so much for the information! 
If you don't mind me asking, did the vet put any bandages on your cats eye that you had to change? 
 

donutte

Professional cat sitter extraordinaire!
Top Cat
Joined
Apr 22, 2015
Messages
5,775
Purraise
2,554
Location
Northern suburbs of Chicago
If you're ever worried about a cat with one eye being able to get around, just read "Homer's Odyssey" by Gwen Cooper. Homer had both eyes removed (albeit as a kitten) and the things he did were amazing. 

And while my Lucky didn't have his eyes removed, he was blind the last couple weeks of his life. He still managed to get around the house without any problems. Even was able to jump on a stool that moved around the room quite a bit, so wasn't necessarily in the same place as the last time he jumped on it. 
 

catsnip404

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Nov 16, 2015
Messages
131
Purraise
54
 
Thanks so much for the information! 
If you don't mind me asking, did the vet put any bandages on your cats eye that you had to change? 
Sorry, Aangone, I'm just seeing this now.  I'm guessing you've already had the surgery done--how did it go?

And for anyone else reading this that would like the info--no, I didn't need to change any bandages.  She was stitched up, and I don't *think* that I had to have the stitches removed, but it's been awhile so I can't quite recall.
 
Top