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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / April 2005Detached Retinas...plus cataracts..
Hi, I recently adopted a 10 year old blind cat from the shelter..Just felt so bad for the poor thing. I live in a quiet apartment, no kids or other pets (well, a hermit crab). I'm a senior citizen, so I do not want a kitten that will live for 20 years! Now it's just us two old ladies. She has detached retinas on both eyes. - they don't know how long she's had them, she was found in a yard. But she's very docile and cuddly - not feral at all. She also has cataracts on both eyes. Funny thing is that her irises get larger and smaller with the light - just like she can see. Also, a friend was over and took a flash picture of me holding her..And my friend said she did a long squint after the flash! Like the way people see "stars" after a flash. I took a flash photo and she did the same thing..We stopped at that, though - didn't want to hurt/frighten her if she could see something. But she does not follow objects/fingers with her eyes..and she bumps into things.. Is it possible that she can see something? A glow? Shadows? What is her vision after detached retinas. I've read that they can sometimes re- attach... Would it be possible for a vet to reverse the condition in at least one eye...operate on one detached retina (don't know exactly what that means...) and cataract? She gets around the apartment just great - even sits on the window sill "looking" outside..Just wanted to see if there's hope - thinking of "lending" her to a doctor's institute that trains eye surgeons! thanks for help/advice > Hi, > > I recently adopted a 10 year old blind cat from the shelter..Just felt so > bad for the poor thing. I live in a quiet apartment, no kids or other pets > (well, a hermit crab). I'm a senior citizen, so I do not want a kitten that > will live for 20 years! Now it's just us two old ladies. Bless you. > She has detached retinas on both eyes. - they don't know how long she's had > them, she was found in a yard. But she's very docile and cuddly - not feral [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > eye...operate on one detached retina (don't know exactly what that means...) > and cataract? I suggest you post this to alt.med.veterinary since we do not appear to have vets posting here at this time. > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > > thanks for help/advice Where do you live? I wonder if you have a veterinary opthamologist near who could take a look and maybe give you some suggestions. I'm a little concerned as detached retinas often occur from high blood pressure, which *can* be controlled. A shelter might not have had access to veterinary care that had BP monitoring. Did they say anything about that? >She has detached retinas on both eyes. - >they don't know how long she's had them, [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >and smaller with the light - just like she >can see. Did the shelter say why they thought the retina's were detached? If they were I would expect that the pupils would be fixed and dilated. The most common cause of retinal detachment is high blood pressure, which if left untreated will kilI, and my guess is that the shelter doesn't have the equipment to monitor blood pressure. High BP, or hypertension, can also be related to chronic renal failure (a treatable condition) so I think your best bet is to get your cat in for a full blood workup and blood pressure check ASAP. This is especially important since this is obviously an older cat with an unknown origin. When at the vet they will be able to get a good look at the eyes and see what's going on. Please keep in mind that a lot of vets still don't have blood pressure monitors, so it is important to find a vet that does. Depending on what the outcome is, the vet may be able to handle the eye issue as well, although if you have a veterinary opthamologist in your area that would be ideal. Regardless, the first and most important thing is to get the testing done so you know where your cat is at healthwise, find out if there are any underlying issues, and have a baseline to work from. Megan  Signature"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke Learn The TRUTH About Declawing http://www.stopdeclaw.com Zuzu's Cats Photo Album: http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22 "Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way." - W.H. Murray Oh! I should have added - she does have high blood pressure and I give her medication for that daily. They just don't know when the high blood pressure detached her retinas since that's how she was found. I live in St. Louis ("St. Louis Cat Woman). Real name is Anna! > Oh! I should have added - she does have high blood pressure and I give her > medication for that daily. They just don't know when the high blood > pressure detached her retinas since that's how she was found. Ah, okay - good; that's already been taken care of then. Cathy I live in St. > Louis ("St. Louis Cat Woman). Real name is Anna! > Oh! I should have added - she does have high blood pressure and I give her > medication for that daily. They just don't know when the high blood [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > -- > Message posted via http://www.catkb.com I don't know how long you said you have had her but whether or not her retinas can be reattached has a lot to do with how long the detachment occurred. After detachment, the rods and cones start to die and are non-functional as well. It might eb wise to do a search to see if there is a feline opthamologist in your area. From what I know of people with retina problems many still see light and dark to some extent, even if the retina is detached, as long as the optic nerve is intact. Bless you for taking in this kitty; it sounds like she got a wonderful home. -L. >Oh! I should have added - she does have >high blood pressure and I give her >medication for that daily. They just don't >know when the high blood pressure >detached her retinas since that's how she >was found. The most likely scenario here is that her retinas detached at about the same time she was found and the ondition was diagnosed. If caught *quickly*, retinal detachment cause by hypertension can often be reversed if the cat is put on medication quickly. It sounds like that is what has happened and it's a good thing! Megan Signature"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke Learn The TRUTH About Declawing http://www.stopdeclaw.com Zuzu's Cats Photo Album: http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22 "Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way." - W.H. Murray She was found last September - and just sat at the shelter till this past week...everyone was turned off by the fact she was blind. She has been on high blood pressure medication since September. How long her retinas were detached is anyone's guess...could be weeks..or years. 1. How long does it take for rods/cones to die? 2. Can retinas just be partially detached? > She was found last September - and just sat at the shelter till this past > week...everyone was turned off by the fact she was blind. She has been on [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > 1. How long does it take for rods/cones to die? Depends. Sometimes weeks - sometimes longer (in humans, at least). A veterinarian opthamologist can look at her eyes and see if there is any hope of doing anything for them. > 2. Can retinas just be partially detached? Yes. They most often are. -L. I wonder if you got one of those balls that have flashy lights if she could follow it? 10 y.o. is not THAT old in the grand scheme of things. Be interesting to check out. > > She was found last September - and just sat at the shelter till this > past [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > -L. > She was found last September - and just sat at the shelter till this past > week...everyone was turned off by the fact she was blind. She has been on [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > 1. How long does it take for rods/cones to die? > 2. Can retinas just be partially detached? Yes. I don't want to give you false hope, so I strongly suggest you contact Dr. Kirk N. Gelatt at the University of Florida. Dr. Gelatt is one of the leading veterinary ophthalmologists in the world. You might want to give him a call and email or fax him all of the cat's medical records. Tel: +1 352 392 4700 ext 5855 Fax: +1 352 392 6125 Email: gelattk@mail.vetmed.UFL.EDU Best of luck. Phil Thanks for all your help, everybody ...Well, first we have to see what shape the retinas are in, if they are salvageable..A friend has a good vet for her cat, I'll bring mine there for examination/referral. Let's hope for the best! Anna > Thanks for all your help, everybody > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Anna Bless your heart and soul for taking care of this cat. It will come back to you ten times over. > Thanks for all your help, everybody > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > -- > Message posted via http://www.catkb.com Please keep us posted on how she does. I have such a soft spot in my heart for sight-impaired kitties. I once placed one who became blind after a stroke during surgery - she was the sweetest thing. take care, -L. > She was found last September - and just sat at the shelter till this past > week...everyone was turned off by the fact she was blind. Hi Anna. I just wanted to chime in and say hurray for you adopting the kitty. I, too, have a blind cat. His name is Jasper and he is also deaf. We sorta inherited him last August. We took him to help out a friend of the family who's mother had died and had 2 cats. We didn't know he was blind and deaf until we got him. I am quite certain that if I had been looking for a kitty at a shelter, I would have definitely overlooked a cat that was blind. However, after having Jasper for the past 8 months, I can not even EXPLAIN the joy he brings to our home. I really think that *we* are lucky to have him. I have learned so much being the mommy of a special needs kitty! :) Kudos to you! Pam > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > them, she was found in a yard. But she's very docile and cuddly - not feral > at all. She also has cataracts on both eyes. I don't know the answers to your various questions (below), although I have heard of retinas reattaching if they haven't been detached for too long, when treated promptly enough. However, I *would* ask the vet about getting her blood pressure checked, since hypertension/ high blood pressure is one reason for retinal detachment. If it turns out that she has high blood pressure, she can be treated w/ medication to lower it, just as people can. Not all vets are yet equipped & trained to do cats' blood pressure readings. If your vet can't do the reading, s/he could probably recommend the nearest vet, to get it done. Cathy > Funny thing is that her irises get larger and smaller with the light - just > like she can see. Also, a friend was over and took a flash picture of me [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > thanks for help/advice > I recently adopted a 10 year old blind cat from the shelter..Just felt so > bad for the poor thing. I just want to say how wonderful you are to offer this cat a home. Does she have a name?Photos? Lesley Slave of the Fabulous Furballs Oh my goodness..it took a two week course at a local community college just to get to the point where I could write a letter and surf the web on the computer! Not ready for websites just yet. But I have made millions trading stocks on eTrade (just kidding!). As for the name..- I'm settling on "Rae Charles"....and maybe starting her on piano lessons! Anna > Oh my goodness..it took a two week course at a local community college just > to get to the point where I could write a letter and surf the web on the [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > As for the name..- I'm settling on "Rae Charles"....and maybe starting her > on piano lessons! hahahaha! Very cute. My cat has a relatively harmless condition called feline hyperesthesia, meaning pretty much that when you pet the base of her tail she does weird stuff. Well, she is a tuxedo cat and what she does is point her nose to the sky and wag her head back and forth and sing "Mow. Mow mow mow. Mow mow." If I got her a little pair of sunglasses she would look like a blind 1960s lounge singer. :') |
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