Feline disability comes in many shapes and forms and, of course, managing it will look different from cat to cat. The most important aspect of caring for your own disabled cat is to communicate with your veterinarian whenever necessary and to know your cat’s unique needs and personality. Whether they are disabled from birth or as a result of disease, accident, or age, you need to know how best to care for your kitty in order to ensure it has the quality of life that any cat deserves.
Just as with humans, cats are prone to all the struggles and frustrations that disability can bring. However, this does not mean their (or your own) life is destined to be miserable. Any disability is manageable with enough care, resources, and information. Your vet can advise you in more detail about relevant guides and information sources specific to your cat’s condition.
Some of the most common feline disabilities can include: partial or total blindness, deafness, cerebellar hypoplasia (wobbly cat syndrome), or amputated limbs. Keeping a quiet, orderly home will help ensure cats with these conditions stay happy and stress-free by minimising any unexpected obstacles. For example, a blind cat would struggle in an environment that changes often, so this would undoubtedly need to be factored in if you decided to move or add furniture into your home. Small considerations like this are crucial; in the above example, doing so reduces the risk of a sightless companion running into things and struggling – at least initially – to adapt to this change in their living space.
Unfortunately, disabilities in cats are commonplace as a result of mistreatment or outright abuse. When you adopt a cat with such a rough history, you will need to keep the emotional trauma in mind as well as the physical. They may be more skittish, aggressive in stressful situations, or react poorly around other cats or children. It is vital to remember that this is never out of cruelty, but that they are simply afraid and defending themselves according to their natural instincts, which will be tied in with their prior experiences to at least some extent.
Regardless of how the condition came about, anyone who lives with or near the cat should be told the gist of their disability at the very least. For instance, if your deaf cat likes to wander the neighbourhood, your neighbours would probably appreciate knowing your cat cannot hear their car driving down the road while your feline friend crosses the street.
Despite how big a responsibility looking after a cat with a disability can feel at times, it’s comforting to know that there are plenty of online communities for people caring for disabled kitties; these can be a fantastic source of support, community, and advice. Disability can be stressful for everyone involved under the best of times, but being well informed and supported by other people who can empathise with you makes any struggle a little lighter, and can often bring out the sunny side of any difficult situation.