Feline Cataracts

Feline cataracts are a common medical condition in cats marked by clouding of the lens within the eye. Untreated, cataracts can partially or completely impair a cat's vision.

  1. Causes

    • Feline cataracts can occur due to age, genetic disorders, nutrient deficiencies or a trauma to the eye or head.

    Symptoms

    • According to Petplace.com, cats with cataracts may begin to bump into things, avoid climbing the stairs or squint. Pet owners may also notice a blue or white discoloration around the pupil or black part of a cat's eyes.

    Diagnosis

    • Veterinarians typically use hand-held lights or ultrasound tools to examine a cat's eyes in order to make a diagnosis of feline cataracts. Veterinarians may perform blood tests as well in an attempt to determine the cause of the cataracts.

    Treatment

    • The treatment for feline cataracts is either traditional surgery performed with a scalpel or phacoemulsification, which uses sound waves to dissolve the cataracts. After the surgery, cats wear a cone-shaped device around their necks called an Elizabethan collar for approximately three weeks in order to prevent them from scratching around their eyes, reports Mar Vista Animal Medical Center.

    Considerations

    • In some cases, pet owners opt not to treat feline cataracts due to the expense related to treatment, which was reported by Coolest-Cat-Care.com in February 2010 as costing an average of $1,500 to $3,000. Cats may have some difficulty adjusting to loss of vision first, but typically have a high quality of life.