Cat with one eye

[Alk]

Hi

My cat was recently hit by a car and the vet has said that they won't be able to save one of his eyes, he's always been an outdoors cat and constantly meows and scratches the door whenever we keep him in he also refuses to use a litter tray and only likes doing his business outdoors. I'm now worried that when he comes home he's going to have to be an indoor cat - we do have a garden which is fenced in with 7ft high fence that he used to jump very easily. Does any one have any experience on this, will I need to keep him indoors or is it safe to let him go into the garden (will he still be able to jump the fence?) I'm worried about how he'll adapt.

Thanks!!

[Lilith]

Hi and welcome

Oh poor chap, very sorry to hear. He will have to be a house cat while he's healing, but I imagine after that he will adapt.

I once had an elderly mostly blind cat who did just fine, but the garden was secured and she wasn't a roamer. Some people on here have cats who have lost limbs but refuse to give up hunting and climbing - what's the odd handicap to an ambitious cat?

Once he's come to terms with the loss of his eye I can imagine your lad will be back to normal, and hopefully there will be others along soon to tell you of their own cats' adaptation to handicaps and be able to give more advice too.

All the very very best and big fusses to your boy - please let us know how he goes on, bless him

[bobbys girl]

My Purdy lost the sight in her left eye at just 10 months old (we heard the fight but don't know who caused it - fox or very big cat!)

It hasn't slowed her one bit. She is still, unfortunately, a keen hunter (though it is funny to watch birds prancing around on her blind side). She also watches the tv and is fascinated by golf, snooker and the Simpsons. Perhaps it is because she lacks binocular vision.

She still enjoys an outdoor life, though the road near our house is fairly quiet.

There are folks on here who have cat proofed their gardens. I'm sure they will be along soon to advise on how to go about it.

Fusses to your little fella.

[MarySkater]

I made a garden enclosure for my cats, and it gives me great peace of mind to know that they are kept away from cars and other hazards.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/13429023@ ... ed-public/

At the time I had this built, it was easiest for me to keep the cat zone about 3 metres wide, and then I was able to stretch netting right across the top. In the early days I've seen both cats climb the corner posts and head-butt the netting to see if they could push under it, but now they know it's secure and they don't bother. So far mine haven't tried tunnelling under, but I watch out for that.

However, if you have a bigger garden and want to secure all of it, the way to go is with overhanging net. There are some photos here of Felisafe installations:
https://catfencing.org.uk/cat-fencing-images.felisafe
If you google "cat fence" you'll find other options.

Since your cat is used to climbing your fence, he'd certainly put any defences to the test. He may not see the netting, so I'd expect him to climb the fence until he realises that he can't go any further, then he'd give up and drop to the ground (and probably try again at a different bit of fence ). But he'd get used to it.

If it was me, I'd proof the garden (or part of it, if it's not practical to proof the whole thing). If you let him out free as you have been doing, you'll have to assess what the chances are that he'd get hurt again. Good luck with whatever you decide, and let us know how you get on.

[Alk]

Thank you everyone for the brilliant advice and kind words! I think he's too much of an outdoor cat to be kept in but the thought of letting him roam off by himself and potentially get hit again makes me think that cat proofing the garden is the best way to go.
Thank you!!!