lilynmitz wrote:Firstly, Well done not giving up on her. My Mitz was blind when we got him, although the recue centre hadn’t realised (or conveniently forgot to tell me), but he was 8 years old by then. His condition sounds very much like your girl. He did yowl from time to time at night when we first got him, usually when he had a bad dream or woke up not remembering where he was and panicking, I would go and comfort him and he settled down again. It sounds tougher for you at the moment, as she’s having to adjust to so much. In particular, she’s losing her night vision, which is really important for cats. Mitz had a little peripheral vision in good light, but none in poor light. I wonder if you could leave a light on on the landing for the time being so she isn’t plunged into total darkness. It would need to be a fairly bright light, as low lamp light didn’t help Mitz. If the light keeps you awake, try wearing an eye mask until she’s settled into her new world.
if all else fails, can you shut her in a comfortable room at night with beds, food, water and litter. She might object to the new routine at first, but she will get used to it if you tough it out, and may actually come to feel safer there, (get a feliway diffuser going in there to help,her adjust to it). You can’t cope with sleep deprivation for ever, and this way hopefully she will settle more quickly and you will only need to reassure her less frequently. She will adjust eventually, but she will need a lot of reassurance meanwhile.
A few more basics that we learnt with Mitz, always rub your fingers before you stroke her, so the sudden contact doesn’t make her jump, never leave things on the edge of the bed or sofa so they don’t get a Duden shock when they land on them when they jump up, don’t leave stuff on the floor for her to crash into (Mitz ended up with a black eye that way) and never ever let her out unescorted unless you have made the garden completely secure. Hope this helps.
I think it's happened gradually so she's adjusted well. She plays more at night now, which is bizarre. I think she wants attention. this morning at 12.30am I threw the covers back, expecting her to run downstairs, but she sat at the water bowl waiting for me to finger feed her water.....which I did because she purrs so loud whilst I do it.
Sadly I don't have a separate room and to be honest I'd be bereft without her sleeping on the bed next to me. Some nights are worse but I know I can catch up at weekends. I'm quite hard sometimes so just ignore her but then Milo joins in so it's double fun! He's great with her, watches me play and not interfere but then jumps out on her from nowhere, naughty boy.
I always speak to her when I go to touch her, and do it gently. I think I've known in the back of my mind about her eyes as when I give her a treat I tap under her chin so she knows where it is, and that's happened for a good few months. She jumps up on the bed and lumbers over me, little angel! She doesn't go out, it reinforces my decision that neither were going to.
