Did you know there are glasses for cats? Learn about the purrfectly adorable reason you may have seen cats sporting glasses lately. In reality, cats don’t require spectacles the way humans do. Find out how cat vision compares to human eyesight, and what to do if you think your cat is losing his vision.
Truffles the eye clinic kitty
When it comes to glasses for cats, no one does it better than Truffles. This tuxedo kitty first started making the rounds earlier this year when the children’s optical shop A Child’s Eyes shared images of Truffles sporting her very own eyeglasses.
While most cats wouldn’t put up with wearing glasses, Truffles has helped many children feel more comfortable getting treatment for various visual handicaps. As the honorary eyeglass instructor, she has helped teach kids how to wear their glasses and their eyepatches, as well as how to identify shapes on their eye tests. Hooray, Truffles!
How cat vision differs from human vision
blindness for a variety of reasons. According to PetMD, the four most common reasons for cat eyesight loss include:
- An inflammation of the middle portion of the eye called uveitis. This is usually caused by an infection from a disease like feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), or feline leukemia (FeLV)
- Retinal detachment caused by high blood pressure (often associated with hyperthyroidism or kidney disease)
- Cataract formation due to untreated diabetes in cats
- Traumatic eye injuries
What to do if you suspect cat vision loss
Make sure you’re taking your cat to the veterinarian at least once a year—twice if your cat is older than 10 years of age. The sooner your vet can diagnose a disorder affecting your cat’s vision, the better the prognosis for slowing vision loss.
Symptoms associated with cat vision loss or approaching blindness may include:
- Cloudy, discolored, or inflamed eyes
- Large pupils that remain dilated even in bright light
- Startling easily
- Confusion if a piece of furniture has been moved
- Bumping into walls or furniture
- Misjudging heights when jumping
Vision is an essential part of any mammal’s life, but you shouldn’t despair if your cat’s eyesight is failing. Most cats adjust incredibly well to a less visual life. Learn more about adopting a blind cat.
