Damaged Retinas in Cats

The retina is the mass of light-sensitive cells at the back of the eye that allows the brain to see a picture of what is in front of the cat. When the retina is damaged due to injury or illness, the cat's vision suffers. In many cases, the damage becomes quite severe before a cat's owner recognizes that it is having issues with its vision.

  1. Causes

    • Several different illnesses and injuries can result in damage to your cat's retina. High blood pressure can cause the cat's retina to swell and eventually detach, causing blindness. Other medical problems can also cause retinal detachment and other damage, including infection, nutritional deficiency and cancer. Other causes can include head trauma from an accident, genetic issues and viral infection in the mother during pregnancy. Genetic issues are most often found in the Abyssinian and Persian breeds.

    Symptoms

    • The symptoms that a cat exhibits when it is experiencing the effects of retinal damage signify the difficulty the cat is having with its vision. Your cat may begin running into objects that are out of their normal places, stop jumping on and off high places and experience a personality change due to fear and insecurity. You may also notice some physical signs in your cat. These include a change in the color of your cat's eyes, as well as a change in size.

    Treatment

    • While retinal damage is difficult, if not impossible, to correct, it can be treated to prevent further damage as long as it is caught early. As soon as you begin noticing symptoms in your cat, schedule a visit with the veterinarian to fully evaluate your cat. If the culprit is an illness, such as hypertension or infection, medication may help stall the effects of the retinal damage. However, even these medications have only a 50 percent chance for your cat to regain its vision.

    Prevention

    • Even though retinal damage is not completely preventable, there are things you can do to help protect your cat. If you can, purchase a cat from a reputable breeder whom you are confident has taken good care of her pregnant cats. Cat-proof your house to reduce the risk of an accident that would result in head trauma for your cat. If your cat is prone to being clumsy, protect it from access to high places. Feed your cat a well-balanced diet that contains all of the nutrients a cat needs to be healthy.

    Caring for a Blind Cat

    • If your cat does suffer retinal damage and has poor sight or has become blind, your cat can maintain its quality of life with a little help from you. At the beginning, your cat may be afraid and unsure of itself. During this adjustment phase, create a safe room for your cat where it cannot be hurt. Once your cat is more sure of itself, it will be able to move around the house on its own. Discourage other pets from chasing a cat that is blind or has sight problems. If you have young children, encourage them to be gentle. Tell everyone in your home to speak to the cat as they approach to avoid startling the cat.