Deaf and Blind Felines: How to Care for and Nuture Your Disabled Pet

Having a blind and deaf pet can seem both heartbreaking and frustrating in one fell swoop. It can be a time of indecision on what you should do, as well as what is best for your pet. Below are some very helpful tips I've gathered from caring for two deaf and blind cats in the last ten years.

Decide

One of the biggest decisions one has to make before continuing care for their animal is to determine if he or she is becoming aggressive. Some animals, just like humans, get very angry and frustrated with their new life, causing some of them to be very hard to handle. If your pet is going to start clawing, growling and being very violent, you may want to consider putting the darling to sleep. However, I suggest this only as a last resort since most pets are like family and nobody wants to dispose of a loved one.

If you've decided to care for your pet and that they aren't going to be aggressive, the next course of action is to figure out a good routine for them that is easy for you and somewhat normal for them. It is a lot easier to care for an animal when it feels more natural for you as well as the pet.

Walking around

While it may seem funny at first to have a pet walk straight into a door or wall, remember that if the animal is going fast enough he or she can be hurt unintentionally. Be sure to keep clear paths that the animal can navigate through easily and without too much confusion.

One of the first things you will notice about your animal is they might walk around in the same path for a while. Don't worry - this doesn't mean they are losing their minds. They are getting use to their new surroundings and actually creating map like paths in their head. Our cats would meow or make low growl noises as they moved about. It doesn't mean they're angry or lonely, they might be feeling vibrations to know their limits.

Be sure that when your animal is first getting acquainted with its new surroundings that you never leave your pet unattended on a couch or chair until they are familiar with the distance to jump and are secure enough to not wobble around. In the beginning some animals stumble around when they walk. After a while you may not even realize your pet is blind - they can jump up on furniture in time and find a comfy spot without jeopardizing their safety.

Feeding

Fair warning - your pet probably WILL make some sort of a mess when eating if they didn't before. They will nose around with food right under their noses and may miss the bowl or plate they eat out of. Just try to be patient and if they are use to a moist food diet, remember that there are spot cleaners that work in many local grocery stores.

It may take a while for the pet to catch onto where exactly the food is, but once they do, please keep feeding your pet in the same area. Too much confusion with food and water placement can cause a pet to become frustrated or flat out refuse to not eat. Just like with healthy pets, keep a fresh source of water available at all times and try not to get upset if he or she walks through or spills the water dish trying to navigate around. It most likely will happen.

Vet Visits

Keep up to date on the usual vet visits. Your vet can help you know if your pets eyes or ears are in need of assistance regardless of the ability to see or hear. Ear mites and dirty ears can cause your beloved pet to have balance issues so be sure to have them checked out at each visit.

Animals can be affected by the same eye inflictions humans can contract. Pink eye may have been a cause of your pets blindness, for example. Just because they can't see doesn't mean the eyes can be disregarded -- they may get infected again and cause serious issues. Note any redness or swelling of eyes and contact a vet immediately as to avoid anything more costly down the line.

The care for a blind pet can truly be one of compassion and agitation all at once. Remember that things can still be lighthearted with your animal - they might step into their water dish and jump backwards in shock. It's all right to laugh once you know your pet is all right. Above all else, just be patient, loving and the best pet parent you can be. It's not the end of your pets life - it is the beginning of a new one.