How To Best Care For A Blind Cat & Keep Them Safe

Thinking of adopting a blind cat? Or has your buddy gotten a bit cloudy around the eyes as they’ve grown older? Not to worry – caring for a visually-impaired cat isn’t too different from a sighted one. With a few tweaks to your environment, you can help them make their way around just fine. Here’s how you can care for yours – and prevent them from venturing too far away from home.

How can I tell if my cat is blind – or getting there?

If you’re suspecting your buddy might be slowly losing their vision, here are a couple of signs to watch out for:

• Changes in your cat’s eyes
  Look for clouding, discoloration, or unusual reflections. Sometimes, their pupils might be unevenly-sized or don’t respond to changes in light.
• Behavioral changes
  Does your buddy seem a bit…jumpier than usual? Or just more cautious than before? A blind cat may be reluctant to jump or run and might bump into walls or furniture more often.
• Difficulties getting around
  A blind cat might find it difficult orienting itself or finding its way to familiar places. Like food or water bowls, especially if you’ve moved them elsewhere.
• Lack of response to stimuli
  Stand in front of your cat and throw some small object – like a cotton pad or tissue. (Something that doesn’t make much noise landing on the floor.) If your cat picks up on it (especially before it touches the ground), they might still have their sight.

⚠️ If you do suspect that your cat is blind – or slowly losing their vision – drop by your vet right away.

How do blind cats make their way around?

Blind cats can still make their way around through a combination of other senses and their instincts. Including their:

• Sense of smell
  Especially for food, water, bedding, litter box, and other important spots. Cats use scent marking from the pads of their paws to “claim” little bits of territory around your house – and outdoors. This can help them navigate their environment.
• Sense of touch
  Through their whiskers, which can help them gather information about their surroundings. These include movements in the air and even obstacles in their path. Likewise, cats’ paws are also very sensitive and can help them recognize different surfaces, like mats and rugs.
• Sense of hearing
  With cats being able to detect sounds from a great distance. Cats can also get used to the sound of your household appliances, like the humming of your fridge or the ringing of your doorbell, to help orient themselves.
• Memory and spatial awareness
  Cats have great memory and can remember how furniture and other obstacles in their environment are arranged. This can help them avoid obstacles and move around safely. Blind cats tend to follow fixed routes to move around safely, getting from one place to another by using specific paths and points at home.
• Vibrations in the ground
  Which can help cats gather information about their surroundings – like footsteps or the tapping of objects – and find their way around.

Can I let a blind cat outdoors?

Despite the risks, letting your cat outdoors shouldn’t be something you restrict completely. An outdoor cat that’s lost an eye in a fight or due to age can still make their way around their territory with their sense of touch, hearing, smell, and even vibrations in the ground. A cat that’s been blind from birth has had even longer to learn how to make their way around, so they could benefit from short periods of supervised outdoor time.

Blind cats in general tend to be on the more cautious side – so they’re less likely to stray too far by themselves entirely. So if you want to let your blind cat outdoors, here are a couple of your options for max safety.

Never let your cat out unsupervised

Blind cats might be savvy, but even they’re vulnerable to all manner of dangers outdoors – like from passing cars, cyclists, open pools, other animals, poisonous plants, and more. If you can get your cat used to a harness and long lead, you can take them out to enjoy some fresh air together. A harness and lead help your cat walk around in a controlled manner, providing a safety anchor in case your cat spooks from a loud noise and bolts.

⚠️ Should you carry your blind cat around outdoors? Vets don’t recommend it. The resulting lack of sensory stimulation can actually make your cat feel more confused and disoriented! Cats also tend to leave a scent trail behind with their paws. So if you let yours wander around in a safe, supervised space, they can gradually learn to “remember” the path back home.

Ensure your backyard (or outdoor space) has a secure fence

If you have a garden, a secure fence can go a long way helping keep your cat indoors. In fact, an outdoor cat enclosure – or a catio – can help give your buddy some safe outdoor time without compromising on their safety.

Be extra mindful around balconies or terraces

If you’ve got a balcony, it’s both a fantastic supervised outdoor space for your cat – but also a highly risky one. (Especially if you live a few floors above!) Which is why it’s always a good idea to never let your cat out into a balcony or terrace without you being around. You can also cat-proof your balcony with special wire mesh or another safe covering that can allow your cat some sunlight and outdoor time – without risking them falling off. Some of your other options include:

• Balcony netting
• Plexiglass panels
• Mesh cloth
• Bamboo fencing

Read more: 10+ Tips To Create The Purr-Fect Cat Proof Balcony

Ensure your cat is easy to identify

Besides fall- or escape-proofing your balcony, it’s also a good idea to get your cat used to wearing a collar with an ID tag. Ideally, one with your contact details. Or better yet, get your cat microchipped to have a permanent ID tag implanted in their shoulder blades. Make sure you’ve updated your contact details on the national microchip database after. All these steps can help ensure your cat isn’t mistaken as a stray and sent off to a shelter or rescue organization instead!

💡A cat GPS tracker can also be an important emergency measure in case your cat does wander off. With just a glance at your phone, you’ll be able to track them in real-time – and intercept them right away.

Find Your Cat Indoors

Living with a blind cat: Our top tips for a safe, happy life indoors

Cat-proof your indoors

A blind cat might be more likely to bump into furniture or walls than sighted cats. So you’ll find it helpful to:

• Secure any dangerous areas indoors, like stairs, windows, and balconies with netting or grids to prevent falls.
• Keep your doors either fully open or fully closed, if possible.
• Watch out for window sills, especially those in sunny spots! Tilted windows can be a huge temptation for cats to sneak out from. Consider attaching a non-slip mat on your window sills (or other surfaces your cat likes) to prevent an escape attempt.
• Be mindful of any sharp or pointed objects your cat might bump into.
• Do your best not to shift your furniture around too much, else you risk messing up your cat’s “mental map” of your home layout. For example, using a specific mat or rug to signal “living room” or “bedroom.”

Watch out for any risky indoor hiding spots

Sighted or not, all cats are at risk of squeezing themselves into risky hiding spots indoors. Including:

• Washers and dryers
• The space between your bed and the wall (especially if one of their toys has fallen there)
• The space between your fridge and the wall (especially if they smell some food there!)
• Rafters, from where a blind cat might easily fall off
• Garages, especially the warm, cozy spot under your car – where you might not notice them
• A cabinet, cupboard, or even a drawer – where they might get stuck

From where you might not hear yours crying out for help – or even be able to reach them without getting the fire department involved.

Create a stable routine

A consistent, predictable routine can help your blind cat relax and adjust more easily to their surroundings. This can look like:

• Keeping your furniture layout the same, so your cat knows where to go for food, water, scratching posts, or to the litter box.
• Following regular meal and play times, so they know what to expect at specific times of the day. Your cat’s nose for food will help guide them to the food bowl well enough!
• Gently introduce your cat to any “new” furniture or objects by letting them sniff and bat at it with their paws. With time, they’ll register it as a part of their mental map and remember to avoid it.
• Call out your cat’s name softly to attract their attention, else they might startle if you approach too quickly or suddenly.

💡Want to teach a newly-adopted blind cat where their litter box is? Just rustle the litter in the toilet so they can hear what’s in the box. You can also try putting them in if they don’t mind you picking them up.

Keep your cat active

Even blind cats need regular playtime and activity. Even more so games that make use of their other senses, like hearing, smell, and touch. Besides keeping them healthy and trim, daily activity can help prevent your cat from experiencing age-related health conditions, like cognitive decline.

• Use “noisy” toys, like rattle balls, crackling toys, or plush toys with built-in squeakers. These help your cat locate the toy by hearing it. Even some laser pointers come equipped with an audible beep or sound!
• Scented toys filled with catnip or other safe scents can help your cat keep their sense of smell sharp. Hide these around your house for an indoor “scavenger hunt”!
• Toys with different textures, like plush mice or balls with nubs can appeal to your cat’s sense of touch.
• Interactive toys like food mazes or puzzles. Now your cat has to use its paws and sense of hearing and smell to find treats. (A great way to keep them occupied when you’re not at home!)
• Feathers and ribbons that make some noise as they move through the air. Perfect for attracting your cat’s attention, even if they can’t see them.

Where a cat GPS tracker can step in

Any cat that’s learnt to navigate the outdoors can be at risk – but especially so if they’re blind. That’s where a cat GPS tracker can work like an extra pair of eyes on your buddy and keep them safe, no matter where you are. (Or they are.)

With a Tractive smart collar, you can now:

• Track your cat’s location in real-time
  With LIVE mode, so you always have a pair of eyes on them – with just a glance at your phone. Plus, unlike Apple AirTags, GPS tracking doesn’t need a network of compatible devices to work. Your Tractive device also works across 175 countries (on a Premium subscription), so you can track your cat even while on vacation.
• Get alerted if your cat escapes home or your backyard
  Set up a “safe zone” around your property from your Tractive mobile app – and get an escape alert if your cat ventures out of it.
• Figure out your cat’s favorite hangout spots
  From their Heat Map and Location History. In an emergency, like if they’ve gone missing, you now know where to look first.

All this – and more – all in one device, built with love for cats and for your peace of mind as a cat parent.

Track your cat wherever they go

Get real-time location information, wherever they go. Find out when they go somewhere they shouldn’t, with Virtual Fences. And discover their favorite spots with Territory.

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And if you’ve liked this post, share it with a friend or a loved one – and let’s help build a safer, kinder world for our furry friends together.