The news that your cat is suddenly or is slowly going blind can be a shock. As humans, we rely on our sight as our primary sense. Living with a blind cat is not as difficult as it may first to us, as cats actually rely much less on their sight than you might think. Cats rely more on their sense of smell, hearing and the information gained through their whiskers. Most cats adapt fairly easily, relying on their sense of smell and memory to learn new ways to navigate their world.

Your cat's sense of smell is one of the major ways she learns about her environment. In that tiny, cute nose are 9 million odor-sensitive cells. To put that in perspective, humans have about 5 million and dogs about 200 million odor-sensitive cells.

Cats also have small glands that secrete pheromones, which are identifying scents specific to each cat. These glands are found on your cat's cheeks, her lower legs and under her tail. As a cat walks or rubs her cheek against something, these pheromone scent markers are left behind, helping her navigate within the space. Pheromones also help her to identify the other animals in your home, so she'll know who is in a room with her.

Cats have exceptional hearing abilities. Your cat can hear high frequency sounds that we can't, she can judge distance based on sound. Their ability to locate the source of a sound is remarkable; from a yard away a cat can distinguish between sound sources that may be only three inches apart. The range of their hearing is also much greater than a human.

Your cat will learn to rely more on her extraordinary other senses as she adapts to blindness. She will need some additional care from her family, of course, as she adjusts to her new world. Here are some suggestions for living with a blind cat .

• Safety First!
  Your blind cat needs to be protected from dangers that she can't see. You will need to really look at your home and just like you would "baby proof" for safety, now you will "kitty proof".
  • Keep your cat indoors
  • Keep the toilet lids down
  • Open windows must have a window screen
  • Remove or cover any sharp edges that are at cat level
  • Watch for sharp, small bits of broken toys, glass, flower pots, etc.
  • Cover any open water sources outside ( if your cat goes out ) such as children's wading pools.
  • Get a medical alert ID tag from your vet, stating that your cat is blind, and attach to her collar. Consider having a microchip ID implanted in her, in case she ever gets lost.
• Be Consistent.
  Blind cats will rely on memory extensively to navigate through your home. The most important thing you can do for your cat is to keep things in the same place at all times. It is important that you be consistent.
  
  Keep her food and water in the same place at all times. Litter boxes too, need to always be in the exact same place. Once she is confident that her basic needs are never going to change, Kitty can begin to relearn the other parts of her day.
  
  Don't leave toys, books, shoes, etc, lying on the floors. These stray items become land mines for your blind cat. Don't keep her guessing as she walks through the house.
  
  Don't rearrange your furniture and be sure to always put chairs up to the table or snack trays away after meals. Your cat can easily bump into large items as furniture, possibly injuring herself or becoming disoriented.
  The most helpful thing you can do for your pet is to be consistent and considerate in your daily routines.
• Be Patient.
  If your pet has suddenly become blind, it may take several weeks for her to adapt, but she will adapt. Pets who lose their sight gradually, as with cataracts, adjust slowly in ways we often don’t' notice. Allow your cat extra time and space as she learns how to be a functioning blind cat. Resist the urge to pick her up and carry her everywhere. She needs to learn how to walk in her home without sight.
  
  Because the senses of smell and hearing are more important o cats than their vision, they may return to almost normal much quicker than you might imagine.
• Supervise Outside Activities.
  Keep your cat indoors at all times. A blind cat cannot detect danger and escape, especially if she is attacked or chased. If you like to let your cat outside, never leave her alone in any open area. Take her out in a kitty harness with leash for safe walks and playtime. The harness provides better control for you than a regular collar.
  
  A screened in porch is a great way for a blind cat to safely enjoy the outside air. You may also want to investigate the fully enclosed pet play yards that are available if you want your blind cat to spend some time alone outdoors.