Blinde kat verzorgen
If you suspect that a kitten is visually impaired, schedule an appointment with a veterinarian who can help to diagnose your kitten and offer advice.
If a kitten’s eyes are infected, read my article on helping kittens with eye infections, and seek medical attention from a veterinarian right away.
When you’re fostering or first introducing a blind kitten into your home, you’ll want to give them at least two weeks in a contained area like a playpen or guest room.
Do not introduce them to the full house right away; keep them safely housed in one area to start.
In their area: Place a shallow litter box in the corner Place food and water in an opposite corner Give the kitten a soft bed or two Choose safe enrichment items like ball chasers and ball tracks, low scratchers, and climbers or perches that are less than two feet in height.
Line the floor with large plush blankets or carpet pads, especially in areas where the kitten could fall from elevation higher than 6 inches Plan to keep the space laid out in the same way so that the kitten can map it out and successfully navigate.
Always avoid hazards like access to the outdoors, bathtubs, fireplaces, sharp objects, reclining furniture, tall cat trees, or anywhere where they can fall or become stuck.
Introducing a blind kitten to their surroundings involves gentle guidance.
Initially, place them in the litter box several times to help them establish its location.
Place them in front of their water and guide them by running your finger through it to help them hear where it is.
For food, place them in front of it and establish an auditory cue for mealtime, such as a special whistle or even just the sound of the can opening.
Keep the placement of these important items consistent, and they’ll have no trouble finding their litter, food and water!
Supervise their exploration of the environment by placing them near or on objects, ensuring a gradual introduction to climbing as they grow.
Most importantly: keep the environment consistent, as changes may disorient them.
You’ll find that the kitten will gradually master the space, and once they do, you can slowly introduce them to more areas with supervision.
Opt for interactive toys with audible components, such as: Wand toys with bells Wand toys that crinkle Crinkle balls Rattle mice
When you engage in interactive play with a kitten who is blind, they can track the toy through hearing—and you’ll find they’re very capable little hunters!
Spending quality time together is important when fostering or adopting any kitten.
When working with a blind kitten, you’ll want to spend lots of time laying or sitting on the floor with them, letting them climb you and offering gentle petting.
Communication is key, and you can teach them auditory cues such as rubbing your fingers together to signal where your hand is for pets.
Notice what works best for the kitten, whether that’s vocal or hand cues, and teach them to understand where you are and when you’re offering them affection.
Never scold the kitten if they bite—this is common for any kitten, but especially for a kitten who is navigating their world without sight.
What matters most is finding an adopter who is willing to learn and adapt their space for the kitten’s needs.
Ideally, look for an indoor home with a single level; if there are multiple floors, they’ll need to take additional precautions to prevent falls.
Educate the potential adopter about potential hazards, and encourage gradual introduction to the home, starting with one safe room and eventually introducing new areas of the house with careful supervision.
In time, blind kittens can learn to fully navigate their living space—but it’s important that adopters understand not to rearrange furniture or introduce new large items without carefully reintroducing the kitten to the space!
Een blinde kat gebruikt zijn reukzin en geheugen om zijn weg te vinden tijdens zijn gebruikelijke activiteiten.
Hou zijn eten en kattenbak dus op de gebruikelijke plaats en verplaats de meubels in huis niet.