Blind Cat? Everything a Pet Parent Should Know About Blindness in Cats

Blindness in cats can come on suddenly or develop slowly over time.  

While not all causes of blindness are treatable, the earlier you notice that your cat is losing vision, the better your chances are of stopping progression or reversing the condition.  

Here, you’ll learn about symptoms and causes of blindness in cats, as well as how your veterinarian will handle your cat’s loss of vision. 

What Is Blindness in Cats?

Blindness in cats refers to loss of vision. This loss of vision can occur slowly over time or happen quickly. 

Cats who have blindness most often have an issue within the eye itself, though it’s also possible for certain nerve or brain issues to cause blindness.  

While most causes of blindness in cats are not immediately life-threatening, sudden loss of vision should still be treated as an emergency.  

In some cases, quick treatment can save your cat’s ability to see. 

Symptoms of Blindness in Cats

Symptoms that could show your cat has either gone blind or is in the process of going blind include: 

• Bumping into objects or acting disoriented 

• Different pupil sizes 

• Large pupils that don’t respond to light 

• Cloudy, discolored, or swollen eyes 

• Walking along walls (for guidance) or walking slowly 

• Reluctance to jump or climb 

• Difficulty navigating the home, especially after furniture rearrangement 

• More hiding and/or vocalizing 

If blindness develops slowly over time, cats often adjust, so it may take a while for pet parents to notice that their pet has lost vision.  

Symptoms are generally more obvious if vision loss is sudden. 

Causes of Blindness in Cats

Blindness in cats can happen with: 

• Retinal detachment: The retina is the layer in the back of the eye that detects light and turns it into signals that the brain can interpret or “see.” Retinal detachment is common in cats with high blood pressure and/or kidney disease. The retina is essentially blown off the back of the eye by high blood pressure, so blindness is usually sudden. 

• Glaucoma: Glaucoma is increased pressure within the eye (intraocular pressure). Fluid accumulates within the eye, putting pressure on the optic nerve that leads from the eye to the brain. The optic nerve can become damaged, resulting in loss of vision. Treatment can slow the disease, but glaucoma is usually not curable. 

• Cataracts: Cataracts are opacities or cloudy spots in the lens of the eye. These interfere with light reaching the retina. When a cataract covers the entirety of the lens, blindness can happen. Untreated, cataracts can also lead to glaucoma or uveitis (discussed below), which are other potential causes of blindness in cats. 

• Uveitis: The uvea is the part of the eye that includes the iris (colored part of the eye) and several other components. When this area becomes inflamed (swollen), it’s called uveitis. Unless treated, the condition can lead to blindness. 

• Ocular infections: Infections of the eye can lead to large ulcers (sores on the eye) or uveitis, both of which can lead to blindness. Infections can be bacterial, viral, or fungal. 

• Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA): PRA is a rare, inherited genetic disease that mostly affects Abyssinians and Persians. With this incurable disease, the retina slowly gets thinner and loses function.The condition is not painful, but it can’t be fixed.  

• Eye or head trauma: Trauma to the head or eye can result in blindness through direct injury to the eye, pressure on nerves from swelling, or brain swelling. 

• Optic nerve disease: The optic nerve carries signals from the eye to the brain. Any disease of this nerve, such as optic neuritis (inflamed nerve), can lead to blindness. 

• Brain tumors or diseases: The brain interprets the signals collected by the eye. As such, a tumor or disease of the brain could affect vision. Brain swelling or tumors of the brain can also squeeze the optic nerve. 

• Eye tumors: Masses growing within the eye can affect how light is sent to the retina and cause other conditions that contribute to blindness, like glaucoma or uveitis. 

• Anesthetic complication: Blindness is a rare complication of anesthesia in cats, potentially caused by lower blood flow to certain parts of the brain or the eye. The condition is usually temporary. 

• Dietary issues: Cats fed an inappropriate diet, such as a vegan diet, may develop blindness. Taurine is an amino acid that is usually found in animal products. If taurine levels are too low in a cat’s diet, blindness can result. Lack of vitamin A can also cause vision changes. 

Diagnosis of Blindness in Cats

Your vet will speak to you about what you’re seeing at home and do a physical examination. Parts of the physical examination related to vision may include: 

• Looking into the back of the eye with a light (ophthalmoscope) 

• Testing tear production (Schirmer tear test) 

• Checking for ulcers with a special fluorescein stain 

• Measuring intraocular pressure to check for glaucoma 

• Finding out if the pupils react to light normally (pupillary light response) 

• Checking for menace response—which is an involuntary blink in response to a quick, threatening gesture toward the eye—to figure out if there is any vision in the eye 

Your veterinarian may also recommend measuring your cat’s blood pressure and running blood work to check for conditions that can contribute to hypertension, such as kidney disease. 

In some cases, the veterinarian may refer you to an ophthalmologist (eye specialist) for further testing. An example of a specialty test is an electroretinogram (ERG), which checks if there is an electrical response in the retina to the presence of light.  

If brain disease is suspected, an MRI might be recommended. 

Treatment of Blindness in Cats

Treatment depends on the underlying cause and whether the condition is reversible.  

Treatments can include: 

• Antibiotics for eye infections (such as Terramycin, gentamicin, and neo-poly-bac) 

• Blood pressure medications, like amlodipine 

• Steroid eye drops, like prednisolone 

• Topical atropine 

• Topical NSAIDs like diclofenac 

• Dorzolamide and timolol eye drops for glaucoma 

• Cataract surgery  

When the cat has systemic issues like kidney disease, these will also need to be managed. 

If the condition is not reversible and the eye is painful, removal of the eye (enucleation) might be recommended. 

Recovery and Management of Blindness in Cats

Some causes of blindness in cats, like progressive retinal atrophy, can’t be cured. Because progression of PRA is slow, these cats usually adjust quite well to their blindness.   

For retinal detachment, partial or full recovery can occur within days to several months if the cat gets treatment quickly after the onset.  

During the recovery period or if your cat’s condition is permanent, you can help your blind cat by not making major changes to the setup of your home.  

These cats need an environment that is safe and predictable.  

Consider blocking off stairs, using an option like this MidWest pet gate or this Unipaws tall narrow gate, and covering sharp corners in your home.  

Blind cats should never be allowed outside unattended. 

You can avoid startling your cat by speaking to them as you approach.  

Consider placing bells, such as Coastal Pet dog bells, or tags on other pets in the home so that your blind cat can hear them when they move. 

Prevention of Blindness in Cats

One of the key things you can do to prevent blindness in cats is stay on top of your pet’s annual wellness visits.  

Finding and managing conditions that cause high blood pressure may prevent retinal detachment.  

You should also get any changes to the eye checked out early rather than taking a wait-and-see approach. Untreated infections or ulcers can progress to uveitis, which can cause blindness. 

Cats with PRA should not be bred, since the condition is inherited.