16 year old cat - suddenly blind and nearly deaf

[Aruba417]

First of all, THANKS SO MUCH TO MEDHELP FOR MAKING THE PETS DEPT!!! SUCH A GREAT IDEA!!!

Okay, I have a cat that will be 16 in May. A few weeks ago, she went blind litterally overnight. She also seems like her hearing has gotten pretty bad. Do cats have strokes? I've researched online and I haven't seen anything about that. I read the leading cause of sudden blindess is hypertension. But why would she have gone deaf, too? I haven't taken her to the vet since I'm short on cash...plus, I'm not going to have them run all sorts of tests on her anyway. She's an old lady now. She doesn't seem to be suffering and she's adapting to her loss of vision. I'm just wondering if anyone else has gone through this and if they know what caused it.

I should also add that her pupils are permanently dilated, too.

[Michael]

So sorry to hear about your cat.  Have you taken her to a Vet?  

Sudden blindness in animals is sometimes caused by hypertension.  You really should get the cat to a Vet.  Herpes of the eyes is another common problem in animals.  The only way to find out what is going on is to see a Vet.

Good luck to you and your cat.

Michael

[krickett]

I would definately recommend a trip to the vet. Although she might be getting along great dealing with her blindness there are other complications that can arise from hypertension. If that is what has caused the blindness. There are medications avaible to help manage it and hopefully prevent any further troubles. Unfortunately like us once vision is lost there is not much chance of regaining it. But she can still live an almost normal life without being able to see. Another thought .... you mentioned she is 16, although this is considered her senior years she could still have many more left ahead. I used to work at a vet clinic and we frequently had cats coming in that were in their 20's! With all the advances in vet. medicine pets are living longer and longer these days. I hope you are able to figure out what is going on. Good luck and let us know how she is doing!

[Aruba417]

Thanks, you guys! I think I'm going to go ahead and take her to the vet then. I was told there wasn't any meds to help with hypertension. I read the only way to help control it was by switching to a low sodium diet. I love my little girl. I want her to live into her 20s like me! I got her when I was 10, so you see we kinda grew up together. So this has been really hard on me! :(

[live4fitness]

FYI hypertension can cause strokes

[LvdByGod]

definitly get her to the vet... it could also be diabetes... and they do have meds to help with that... please let us know how she is doing.

[Missy890]

Yes cats can have strokes..!
Best Bet Taking Her To The Vet.

Also, try to keep her in one single room. Dont move anything around..Place her food and water in the same place all the time, and she will eventually know exactly where they are. And same goes for her litter box, make sure the location doesnt change so she can always find it.

Im not saying 'keep her locked up'...but i have found that by keeping a blind cat in one specific room-for most of the time, other than if u want to take her out of the room to play or what not-is your best bet!
Good Luck!

[SmellyCat07]

I have a sixteen year old cat and she is blind (she gradually became blind). (But she can see shadows and sometimes her pupils adapt to bright light). When we took her to the vet he said that she is perfectly healthy and still had about 3 years. He said that she is going senile (because she randomly starts acting like a kitten and running around and playing) and in a couple of years she will probably go deaf. Smokey (my cat) has lived in this house for 16 years and there haven't been many large changes. She smells everywhere and uses her memory to get around. Don't lift your cat up too much. There is more info on the internet, I suggest you thoroughly research this subject and how to treat 'disabled' cats. BTW: Don't over-protect your cat, cats still want their inner feline independence.
I hope I could help a bit. You'll probably find a solution. And deaf and blind cats should be able to live for a long time.
Hope your cats is happy, considering the condition. (My cat is blind and old and is still very happy, so)