Is there someone out there with a cat like this one?

riafalcon

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Hello! I'm wondering if I can find someone else in this whole wide world that has a cat like Monster Mash. 

I've had Monster Mash since he was a kitten (he is now 5years old), and it was very apparent right from the beginning that he was blind. We knew this because of his behaviour (walking into things, falling into buckets of water etc etc) It's since been confirmed by 3 different vets. 

Monster Mash is very large, even from a kitten he was the largest of his litter. He was the only one born blind. 

Throughout the years I became very curious about him because he wasn't exhibiting the typical blind cat behaviours. He is totally fearless. Since owning him, I've moved a total of 6 times. Never once was he worried about his surroundings or even long car rides to get there. When I moved in with my mother, he was not only not afraid of her two large rambunctious dogs - but he LOVES them. We've even taken them all camping together.

Having Monster Mash as a member of the family is a joy I wouldn't trade for anything in the world. However, I'm concerned there's an underlying brain problem causing his "fearlessness" and odd behaviours such as walking in circles every where he goes. It's actually kind of smart, by walking in circles he avoids running head-on into walls and furniture. But nonetheless, bizarre. 

He also has very crooked teeth. I don't know if it's related to his mental state, but I thought I'd mention it just in case. 

I've worked with animals for a long time, cats included. I've never met a blind cat who isn't at least a little bit nervous in new environments or situations. I guess I just want to know if there's another Monster Mash out there somewhere!

I hope there is someone on this forum that can shed some light on this, even if it's just to tell me that he's okay and I have nothing to worry about!
 

mollyblue

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Well Puffy Cat is not blind, she is deaf, and she is not as fearless as Monster Mash, and we didn't get her until she was a couple years old vs. when she was a kitten.  I believe her fears come from being lost/dumped at the lake and being rescued more dead than alive... There are times she just goes into a flat out panic if she thinks she sees a shadow out of the corner of her eye.  After having some dental surgery done, the vet said he thinks she also has flashbacks to some traumatic event that led up to her being lost/abandoned whatever... and even out in the wild how hard it must be for an animal with a handicap to survive.  Taking all that into account... we think she is pretty fearless. 

Unlike Monster Mash being a big cat, despite a tremendous appetite Puffy Cat is skin and bones.  While not a true munchkin, I think her legs are shorter than the average cat - however, she thinks she is 10ft tall - we like her moxie... Where most cats don't like the vacuum, Puffy loves it.. (no noise and the vibration intrigues her).  She is also a clean freak... If you are sweeping or mopping or dusting, Puffy is inspecting to make sure you miss no corner whatsoever.  The only time she will sleep on the bed with you is when you put fresh sheets on... by the third day she will not even get on the bed...  but clean sheets and she is there.  She doesn't like to sit upon the floor... she will sit on a newspaper, or something an inch high, or something 3 feet high... so long as she is not on the ground. 

When we first got her she would be napping peacefully and for no reason at all would tear through the apartment like her tail was on fire, into every room, across, over and under every piece of furniture... then she would curl up bathe herself and go back to napping.  We determined that since most animals can hear whats going on in other rooms they are not so concerned... but where Puffy cant hear, she had to go see for herself until such time as she learned our routines. 

She is funny because when she talks it is mostly just muttering under her breath which you can barely hear.  She looks like a little old woman walking around talking to herself.  When another cat hisses at her, sometimes she makes the face back, but no sound comes out... other times she just looks at them funny like "why you looking at me like that?"  and it drives our calico absolutely nuts that she (the calico) can be hissing and growling and Puffy doesn't even take any notice.   

Puffy LOVES car rides... she has no apprehension whatsoever about going with me around the block or across the state.  Same routine in the motel rooms though with the bursts of running through the place like a crazy cat, then right back to comfy cozy kickback. 

Puffy has sensitive skin, and she doesn't like to be petted or held, but if you have to get her from point A to point B, just put her in a football hold and she will perch her little head up and look down on everything as though your arm is her personal throne.  She is mostly  independent, when we take her for walks on the leash, she likes to pretend we are not there... but every now and then she will look up to make sure you are still on the other end of the leash, and it is very endearing.  Same for when you get home.  Mostly she points to the food dish and says hey human... dinner time.  But if you are late, she comes frantically muttering as if to say "I have been so worried about you... one of the few times she initiates affection of any sort.  And she is powerless to the red dot.

So, Puffy is not like Monster Mash in most ways, but I told about her just to show that our special needs cats are special in many ways...   Welcome to the cat site... its nice to meet you, and to hear about Monster Mash, and we look forward to more of it!
 
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riafalcon

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Puffy Cat sounds lovely! What a sweet lil thing. She's very lucky to have found you, sounds like her first intro to the world wasn't as pleasant as Monster Mash's.

Monster Mash has sensitive skin too, on his back area, you can actually see his skin moving when he feels something is nearby. However, it never stops him from appreciating a good snuggle. 

Thanks for sharing all about Puffy Cat, it makes me happy to know there's others out there with special needs cats that have cute little quirks of their own. 
 

cindycrna

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OP, read Homer's Odyssey. It is a true accounting of Homer the blind wonder cat:
 

IndyJones

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But back on topic. I know someone who had a blind siames cat who was quite old. He wasn't allowed outdoors for obvious reasons but she doesn't let any of her cats out because people might steal them (pedigree).
 

catwomanbahrain

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I have around 25 cats. I've noticed the less they know the less they are fearless. What's ur Monster Mash bread? My cats are a mix of Persian, Siamese, Himalayan. And when they are kittens they are extremely fearless dropping themselves from high places or jumping down onto moving non fixed stuff. Some grew up with the same behavior throwing themselves around knowing I'd catch them. Yes it's very bizarre but nope it isn't a mental problem. Ur Monster is perfectly fine but a little extra cute showing he knows u got him. Good luck!

Sent from my ONE A2001 using Tapatalk
 
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riafalcon

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I have around 25 cats. I've noticed the less they know the less they are fearless. What's ur Monster Mash bread? My cats are a mix of Persian, Siamese, Himalayan. And when they are kittens they are extremely fearless dropping themselves from high places or jumping down onto moving non fixed stuff. Some grew up with the same behavior throwing themselves around knowing I'd catch them. Yes it's very bizarre but nope it isn't a mental problem. Ur Monster is perfectly fine but a little extra cute showing he knows u got him. Good luck!

Sent from my ONE A2001 using Tapatalk
I got Mash from a barn I was working at one summer. I took him in when he got a bad eye infection. He's been with me ever since. Just a mix bag of DLH cuteness!
 
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