Cats have an insatiable curiosity fed by a true love for adventure, so we shouldn’t be surprised to learn that sight-impaired cats don’t usually let their physical challenge slow them down. If you meet a blind cat, or should your cat become sight-impaired in their lifetime, you’ll discover that they get around remarkably well using their keen senses of smell, hearing, and touch.
My delightful client Katie shared her love of blind cats with me when she contacted Catio Spaces to bring a dream to life. She was seeking help to design and build the purr-fect catio for her two playful and sight-impaired cats, Leela and Wink!
After Katie’s beloved blind cat, Magoo, passed away in 2016, Wink and Leela came into her life, and she already knew that even cats who live in a dark or blurry world love adventure and fun.
Katie’s sweet tabby cat, Wink, is missing his right eye but sees just fine from his left. Black-and-white Leela is almost entirely blind. Her left eye is missing, and her right eye seems only to discern between darkness and light. But there is no need to feel sorry for these two felines. They explore and enjoy their spacious home with the same intensity as a sighted cat.
Her cats’ very boldness and love of life led Katie to contact Catio Spaces to build a custom deck catio that took Wink and Leela’s special needs into consideration. She wanted peace of mind knowing her sight-challenged cats could safely explore the enrichment of the outdoors on their own, without having to worry that they are in danger from falls or predators.
BUILDING A SAFE CATIO HAVEN FOR SIGHT-CHALLENGED CATS
Katie has a 12′ x 4′ second-floor deck that’s a bit too narrow for human entertaining but is perfect for feline basking in the sun. Before transforming the deck into a 2-level catio with a ramp, Katie had bought a mesh enclosure designed for cats, but the interior spaces was small and cramped, and the mesh tent was difficult to keep clean. Plus, Leela found her way around it and tried to squeeze through the balcony railing, not realizing she faced a dangerous drop. So, it was time to think bigger and safer!
To create a sense of adventure for the cats, the catio features a spacious, upper lounge for basking in the warm sun, with a cooler shady floor below. For Wink and Leela to safely navigate between the two levels, we designed a 9“ wide ramp protected by an attractive 7” tall railing to guide them. Textured carpet provides an easy-grip surface on the ramp. Keeping their sense of touch in mind, we installed a different carpet texture on the enclosed upper lounge to signal to Leela’s toes that she had arrived at the top.
Katie loves her cats’ roomy catio and the unique floor-to-floor ramp and railing.
“The railing is perfect. More importantly, it gives me confidence that Leela can navigate the space safely and won’t tumble off the raised platform. It’s also super cute and adds a lot to the aesthetics of the catio.“
With the catio located outside the home’s patio doors and living room window, Katie loves watching the cats enjoying catio life.
Wink and Leela clearly love it, too. Watch them discover their new ramp for the very first time!
The deck catio is protected by a transparent polycarbonate roof that repels rain but lets the sunshine throughout for year-round enjoyment. Painted white to match the house trim, the catio blends beautifully with Katie’s gracious home.
Building a catio on the second-story deck of a house definitely had its challenges! We had to hoist the catio wall and roof panels all the way up to the balcony for assembly.
Wink and Leela access their catio through a cat door in the sliding patio door, and Catio Spaces added a human-sized emergency exit door in the catio above the deck railing.
Kaleo, the dog, joined Katie’s furred family in the summer of 2021 and enjoys his feline housemates while still giving them the space they need. Although the catio is “felines only,” Kaelo willingly shares his soft dog bed just outside the door to the catio, and Katie has even caught the independent Leela napping with him: “I absolutely love it when that happens!”
THE BENEFITS OF CATIO LIVING FOR FELINES AND HUMANS
Wink and Leela spend hours on the upper lounge or snoozing below, sniffing the air and basking in sunny spots. Impaired vision certainly doesn’t stand in the way of their hunting instincts. Katie has caught both cats stalking and catching flies. “I love the little chirping noise that hunting cats make!”
Katie especially likes how she has been able to learn more about the personalities of her two cats. “It’s fun to figure out all their likes and dislikes, and how they approach new situations they meet in the catio. I really enjoy that they can express their independence in their new space. I was surprised how quickly they both took to it – especially Leela. In the nice weather, they were both out there for huge chunks of the day. Even in cooler, wetter, fall and winter weather, Leela still ventures out. She seems to particularly like the fresh air and interesting scents!”
Katie knew that building a catio for her sight-inhibited cats would add a whole new element to their lives. It opened up a world of warmth, coolness, sounds, tastes, and new spaces to explore. “The cats just seem happier – it has expanded their territory. There’s always something new outside with different smells and sensations.”
The catio also provides a few extra human perks. The neighbors next door have a window that looks directly out toward the catio, and they enjoy watching Wink and Leela play and stretch in the sunshine. It’s like having cats of their own, with all the enjoyment and none of the work! And of course, Katie can join Wink and Leela in the roomy catio to enjoy the sunshine.
ADOPTING A BLIND CAT: MEET WINK AND LEELA
For Katie, adopting two sight-challenged cats “just kind of just happened. First, I have a soft spot for pets with any sort of special situation, especially since I worked at an animal shelter in the past, and I know how hard it can be for animals who need a bit of extra consideration to find homes. Second, it turns out that once you have one cat without all their eyes, others find their way to you!”
Katie was out looking for shoes at the mall when Wink found his way into her life at an adoption event sponsored by Mecklenburg County Animal Control in North Carolina. “I saw Wink sitting there all by himself. Seeing this little one-eyed dude there with no buddies pulled at my heartstrings, I had to bring him home.”
Leela joined the family because a friend knew Katie had blind-cat savvy. “My friend had heard of a silly blind kitty being hosted by Whole Cat and Kaboodle in Redmond, WA, and he immediately thought of me.” Leela was rescued as a stray mom-cat with a litter of kittens. All her kittens had been adopted and Leela was now all alone, waiting for a home. “I just had to meet her,” Katie remembers. “She was so funny and playful; I knew she had to come home with me too!”
Wink and Leela did take some time warming up to each other. Katie says, “They aren’t the very best of friends, but they co-exist peacefully,” with careful introductions and a little help from kitty pheromones. “They have wildly different personalities, and it is so fun to watch how differently they approach the world.” Of the two cats, Leela is the more independent and adaptable. “Occasionally she may bump into the wall or furniture, but most of the time it’s hard to tell that she cannot see,” Katie shares. “I am cautious not to move things around or set objects down in areas that are usually clear walkways.”
What causes blindness in cats?
It’s not uncommon for cats to experience vision loss. Kittens can sometimes be born blind or develop damage to their eyes from untreated upper respiratory infections. Older cats can experience a gradual loss of vision due to cataracts. Vision loss can also be caused by diabetes, conjunctivitis, hypertension, glaucoma, tumors or physical trauma.
Signs of confusion, running into objects, unusually loud meowing, or freezing in place merit a trip to your veterinarian for a health and eye check.
HOW TO CARE FOR A SIGHT-CHALLENGED CAT
- Keep your cat indoors or with access to a safe catio enclosure and avoid rearranging furniture. Your cat will learn the set-up of your home given time to explore, but you should frequently show them to their food and litter areas when they first arrive.
- If you must move your cat’s food bowl or litter box, provide a new bowl or box in the new location, and don’t remove the old supplies until your cat is easily finding the new locations.
- Place a gate at the top of stairs or block other hazards to prevent a fall, until your cat learns to go up and down from the bottom. You may need to keep barriers up permanently for cats with balance issues.
- Teach your cat to find you at the sound of your voice by rewarding them with treats and affection each time they find you. Talk to them often!
- Cats Protection suggests you let your cat walk around to explore, rather than carrying them, so they can follow the scent they leave from the glands on their paws.
- Use materials of different textures as food mats and to line ramps and pet steps, to help your cat identify their location by touch.
- Choose toys with bells or chirps to chase, or rumbling “turbo” track toys, for your blind cat to play with for added stimulation.
What would Katie tell other cat lovers who are contemplating adopting a sight-challenged cat?
“Do it!” she says. “Cats are amazingly resilient and you will quickly discover that a sight challenged cat isn’t limited. A tiny bit of extra management of your environment (keeping things mostly in the same spot, making sure there aren’t major fall risks) and your sight challenged cat will soon have your friends asking if you’re sure they really can’t see!”
While blind kitties usually get around well enough that they don’t require much that’s different from any other pet, they do need a little extra consideration when creating safe spaces where they can relax and play. As Katie, Wink, and Leela have discovered, even blind or sight-impaired cats can learn that life is good in a catio!
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Cynthia Chomos is a Feng Shui Consultant, Catio Designer and the Founder of Catio Spaces, creating harmonious indoor and outdoor spaces for her 4-legged and 2-legged clients. She lives in Seattle with her adorable tabby Serena (who has four catios) and is the inspiration for Catio Spaces. Cynthia offers free catio tips, DIY Catio Plans and custom catios to keep cats safe and protect birds and wildlife. You can contact Cynthia at CatioSpaces.com.
