Dear Sinéad and Siouxsie:
One of our cats, a 15-year-old female who used to be an outdoor cat, has bad eyes or is blind. She's going to see a vet soon. How should I adjust things to make it easier on her? She can get to the food/water, and to the litterbox all right...but one time when she went for food one of the other cats just attacked her. What should I do about that?

Many thanks!
~Mira

Sinéad: Well, Mira, it's very considerate of you to ask this question. It shows that you love and care for your cat friends very much, and we applaud you for that.

Siouxsie: As we've said before, aging cats do tend to lose their sight and their hearing, and sometimes even their memory.

Sinéad: The best way to help your cat cope with losing her vision is to imagine what it would be like for you if you went blind. What would you need? What would scare you? What would make your life easier or more difficult?

Siouxsie: We're not trying to say that cats and humans are the same. However, there are some similarities that might help you help your cat.

Sinéad: Your cat probably moves around the house by memory of where things are. Her sense of touch and her ability to perceive the movements of air with her sensitive whiskers do help, but if you rearrange the furniture or move to another home, expect it to take a while for your cat to adjust to her new surroundings.

Siouxsie: A cat with poor or nonexistent vision can become easily frightened by sudden touches or being picked up and carried. So make sure to approach your blind cat quietly, and talk to her to help her know who you are and where you're coming from. Explain to her that you're going to pick her up (or ask her permission if she's not the kind of cat that likes to be picked up). If you need to put her in her carrier to take her to the vet, tell her what you're doing.

Sinéad: Whenever you're doing something that is potentially frightening, talk to your cat in a calm and reassuring voice so she knows you're there and you care about her and that she's safe.

Siouxsie: If you have guests at your house, make sure they understand that this particular cat has special needs and it's important for them to be calm and kind to her. Your cat will appreciate your guests' consideration and reward them with purrs and love.

Sinéad: Cats that lose their vision can learn to compensate, to some extent, by using their hearing and sense of touch. Still, blind cats should not be allowed to roam outdoors unsupervised. Even if your cat does hear an oncoming car, for example, she might not be able to move quickly enough or in the right direction to avoid injury.

Siouxsie: Falls can also be a source of injury for blind or vision-impaired cats. Even though we cats do have a famous righting reflex that allows us to land on our feet (which is controlled by organs in our inner ears that detect our position relative to the ground), we can still land in such a way as to cause broken bones or internal injury.

Sinéad: Because your cat can't see very well, she may not be quite as efficient at grooming herself as she once was.

Siouxsie: She might appreciate your help if she has a dirty spot she can't get to. Also, a nice massage with a soft rubber grooming comb feels very nice--it makes me want to purr just thinking about it!

Sinéad: Depending on how long your cat's hair is, there are various grooming tools to use. If you have to clean a soiled area (if she misses a spot when she's cleaning her bottom after a trip to the litter box, for example), the best solution is to use a washcloth with warm water and wipe off the offending material. She'll probably pick up on what you're doing right away and finish the job herself.

Siouxsie: Just remember--no smelly soaps. We cats don't like smelly soaps!

Sinéad: As for the attacking: Cats will occasionally attack other cats that they perceive to be weak or debilitated. A blind cat certainly falls into this category.

Siouxsie: Cats sometimes attack other cats if they smell different, too. One time when Sinéad came back from the vet, I didn't recognize her because of the smell and I gave her a smack or two before I realized it was her.

Sinéad: Meanie!

Siouxsie: You're lucky I'm too busy eating your food to come over there and bat you!

Sinéad: Anyway, Mira, the best solution for this attacking problem is to feed the blind cat in a separate room so she can eat at her own pace and doesn't have to be anxious about other cats possibly coming after her.

Siouxsie: This will reduce her stress level quite a bit, and will probably improve her appetite as well.

Sinéad: Keep in mind that your cat, at age 15, is definitely a feline senior citizen. This is the time in her life when you can expect her to slow down a little bit. She may lose weight or not be able to stay warm as easily as she did when she was younger. It's very important to treat elderly cats with dignity and respect and to pay attention to their changing needs.

Siouxsie: A feline vitamin supplement will be helpful for your senior citizen cat, too. As they age, cats' digestive systems have a harder time getting the nutrition out of foods. Vitamins generally provide the nutrition in an easy-to-assimilate formula.

Sinéad: Many of these taste yummy, too, and all the cats we've known have enjoyed their vitamins as a special treat.

Siouxsie: It's also important for you to be observant about your cat's behavior. If she begins acting differently or her eating habits change, it's a good idea to take her to the vet. If she has a problem and it's caught early, it will enhance the quality of her life in her twilight years.

Sinéad: We hope this helps you and your family take care of your special cat. Good luck, Mira!

Got a question? Need some advice? E-mail Sinéad and Siouxsie at advice@paws-and-effect.com. None of the advice in this column is meant to be a substitute for regular veterinary care.