Understanding Blindness in Cats: Causes, Symptoms, and Care

People usually land here after a quiet change at home: a cat hesitating at jumps, bumping a shoulder on the doorframe, or turning up with pupils that stay wide even in bright light. Vision loss can creep in, or arrive overnight, and the difference matters—because some causes are painful, and some are time-critical.

Blind cats often cope far better than we expect, especially indoors. The priority is working out what’s causing the blindness, treating anything reversible (or uncomfortable), then reshaping the home so your cat can move with confidence using whiskers, hearing, and memory.^{5, 6, 7}

What can cause blindness in cats?

Blindness isn’t a single disease. It’s a sign, and the cause can sit in the eye itself (lens, cornea, retina, optic nerve) or be driven by whole-body illness such as high blood pressure.

High blood pressure (hypertension) and retinal detachment

In older cats, sudden blindness is commonly linked to systemic hypertension. High pressure can cause bleeding and fluid leakage inside the eye, leading to retinal detachment—where the retina lifts away from the back of the eye and stops working properly.^{6, 7, 8}

This is one of the big reasons sudden vision loss should be treated as urgent. If the underlying problem is addressed promptly, some cats regain partial vision, but delays increase the chance of permanent loss.^{6, 8}

Glaucoma (raised pressure inside the eye)

Glaucoma damages the optic nerve and can be subtle in cats. Owners may notice a progressively cloudy-looking eye, squinting, a pupil that doesn’t respond normally to light, or one eye slowly enlarging over time.⁵

Cataracts and lens problems

Cataracts make the lens cloudy, blocking light from reaching the retina. In cats, cataracts are often secondary to inflammation inside the eye (uveitis), though inherited cataracts can occur, particularly in younger cats. Cataracts may be managed with monitoring, medical treatment of underlying inflammation, or surgery in selected cases.¹

Corneal disease and herpesvirus-related eye damage

The cornea is the clear “window” at the front of the eye. Ulcers, scarring, and painful corneal conditions can interfere with vision. Feline herpesvirus-1 is a common cause of corneal disease in cats, and some breeds are more predisposed to certain corneal problems.²

Inherited retinal degeneration (progressive retinal atrophy)

Some cats develop inherited retinal degeneration where vision gradually worsens over months to years, often starting with night blindness. One recognised example is progressive retinal atrophy reported in Abyssinian cats.³

Trauma, inflammation, and other disease

Eye injuries, deep inflammation (uveitis), infections, and cancers can all affect vision. Because the “outside” of the eye can look normal while the problem is happening in the back of the eye—or elsewhere in the body—diagnosis relies on a veterinary exam rather than guesswork at home.^{4, 6}

Signs your cat may be losing vision

Cats are skilled at carrying on, especially in familiar rooms. Subtle changes often show up first at dusk, on stairs, or around jumps they used to take cleanly.

Behaviour changes you might notice

• Hesitating before jumping up or down, or misjudging distances
• Moving with a lower head carriage, whiskers forward, pausing to “map” a space
• Bumping into furniture after something in the room has changed position
• Startling more easily when approached quietly
• Clingier behaviour or increased calling (not proof of anxiety, but a common pattern when routines change)

Physical clues in the eyes

• Cloudiness of the eye or cornea^{1, 5}
• Pupils that stay widely dilated, or don’t respond normally to light⁵
• Squinting, redness, or signs of eye pain^{2, 5}
• Eyes that look different sizes, or a globe that seems to enlarge over time⁵

Partial versus complete blindness

At home, it’s hard to separate partial from complete blindness with confidence. A cat with partial vision may still navigate familiar routes smoothly but struggle in new spaces or dim light. A fully blind cat often travels by memory, scent, whisker contact, and sound, and may “stall” when furniture is moved. Either way, the cause—not the degree—guides what needs doing next.

When to treat it as urgent

Seek veterinary care promptly (same day where possible) if you notice:

• Sudden blindness or sudden disorientation
• A pupil that is suddenly fixed and widely dilated
• Obvious eye pain (squinting, pawing at the eye, hiding, reduced appetite)
• Blood visible in the eye, or a dramatic change in eye appearance

Conditions like hypertension-related retinal detachment and glaucoma can move quickly, and early treatment can change the outcome.^{5, 6, 7}

How vets diagnose blindness (and why the tests matter)

A proper work-up usually starts with a full eye exam and a general physical exam. Depending on what your vet sees, they may recommend:

• Measuring blood pressure (especially in older cats or sudden blindness)^{6, 7}
• Checking intraocular pressure (to assess for glaucoma)⁵
• Looking at the back of the eye (retina and optic nerve), sometimes after pupil dilation^{3, 7}
• Blood and urine tests to look for drivers such as kidney disease or hyperthyroidism, which are commonly associated with hypertension in cats^{6, 7, 9}
• Ocular ultrasound when the view to the back of the eye is blocked (for example, by haemorrhage or cataract)⁷

Living with a blind cat: making the house easy to read

Most blind cats do best with a steady, predictable landscape. Think less “special equipment”, more “quiet consistency”.

Home set-up that helps

• Keep furniture in place. If you must move things, change one area at a time and guide your cat through the new layout.
• Protect falls. Use a barrier or closed doors around balconies, stairwells, and high landings.
• Use texture as signposts. A mat near the litter tray or food station becomes a reliable landmark underfoot.
• Make key resources easy to find. Keep food, water, and litter in consistent locations.
• Go slow with new pets or visitors. Let your cat approach at their pace, and avoid sudden grabs from above.

Communication and handling

• Announce yourself softly before touching, especially if your cat startles easily.
• Use consistent verbal cues for predictable events (meals, picking up, play).
• Choose toys that give feedback—crinkle, rattle, or a gentle wand toy moving through the air—so your cat can track by sound and vibration.

Health and wellbeing: what matters long term

Watch for pain, not just blindness

Vision loss itself isn’t necessarily painful. The underlying cause can be. Ongoing squinting, rubbing, hiding, or appetite changes deserve a re-check, even if your cat seems to “cope” with navigation.^{2, 5}

Keep check-ups regular

Blind cats still need routine preventative care. For cats who became blind suddenly—particularly older cats—ongoing monitoring for systemic disease (including blood pressure issues) can be part of protecting what vision remains and supporting overall health.^{6, 7}

Nutrition for blind cats

Blindness doesn’t usually require a special diet. What matters is feeding a complete and balanced cat food appropriate to life stage, and managing any underlying conditions your vet identifies (for example kidney disease or hyperthyroidism, which are often linked to hypertension and eye damage).^{6, 7}

Practical tip: keep bowls in the same place, and avoid swapping brands abruptly if your cat is already unsettled by recent changes.

Final thoughts

A blind cat doesn’t need a smaller life—just a clearer one. Stable furniture, gentle handling, and the right medical care remove most of the daily friction. If the vision loss is new or sudden, treat it as information worth acting on quickly; the eyes can be the first place a bigger health problem leaves its mark.^{6, 7}

References

1. Merck Veterinary Manual (Pet Owner Version): Disorders of the Lens in Cats (cataracts, lens displacement)
2. Merck Veterinary Manual (Pet Owner Version): Disorders of the Cornea in Cats (including feline herpesvirus-1 and ulcerative keratitis)
3. Merck Veterinary Manual (Pet Owner Version): Disorders of the Retina/Choroid/Optic Disk in Cats (including progressive retinal atrophy)
4. Merck Veterinary Manual: Ocular Neoplasia in Cats
5. Cornell Feline Health Center: Feline Glaucoma
6. Cornell Feline Health Center: Feline Vision Problems—A Host of Possible Causes
7. VCA Animal Hospitals: Retinal Detachment in Cats
8. Veterinary Ophthalmology (PubMed): Visual outcome in cats with hypertensive chorioretinopathy
9. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (PubMed): Ocular lesions associated with systemic hypertension in cats: 69 cases (1985–1998)