Taking Care of Disabled Cats

In this guide

Disabled cats need more attention and care than most, and if you’re considering adopting or fostering one, here’s what’s genuinely useful to know.

Cats can be disabled from birth, or become disabled later through accident, illness or old age. Whatever the cause, they deserve exactly the same loving, comfortable home as any other cat. Researchers estimate that around three million disabled cats are euthanised every year simply because people are reluctant to adopt them, despite the fact that disabled cats are just as playful and full of life as able-bodied ones. Care needs vary considerably depending on the specific disability, amputee cats, deaf cats and blind cats each face different day-to-day challenges.

Amputee cats

Amputee cats have lost one or more limbs through injury or disease. Cats missing a single limb generally adapt more easily than those missing more than one, who may need a wheelchair.

For an amputee cat, position the bed, food and water bowls at a height that’s comfortable to reach, and consider a small step to help access the litter box. Kitty diapers can be useful too, particularly right after surgery or if walking is still difficult. Your cat may also need help grooming areas it can no longer reach on its own.

It’s worth remembering that the period right after surgery can be genuinely hard for a cat, both physically and emotionally. Keeping your cat indoors, ideally confined to a single room, until wounds have fully healed helps prevent overexertion. Once healed and confident again, outdoor access can resume, ideally supervised at first to make sure everything goes smoothly.

Monitoring an amputee cat’s weight matters too, since excess weight affects mobility and can put extra strain on the remaining limbs, potentially leading to arthritis. Some cats overeat after amputation as a stress response, so it’s worth discussing an appropriate weight and diet plan with your vet.

Deaf cats

Some cats are born deaf, others lose hearing with age or illness. Deaf cats generally adapt to their surroundings more easily than owners expect, compensating with their other senses.

The degree and cause of deafness varies, and some cases are reversible. Reversible causes include tumours, ear infections, wax build-up and ear mites, while permanent deafness can result from inner ear infections, drug toxicity, old age, genetic factors, or noise trauma. A vet can help identify the underlying cause and whether treatment is possible.

When caring for a deaf cat, try to make sure it can see you approaching, since deaf cats startle more easily without warning sounds. Stamping a foot or clapping can help get their attention. Keeping deaf cats indoors is strongly recommended, since they can’t hear approaching danger outdoors. Hand signals can be taught as a substitute for verbal cues, and if you need to wake a sleeping deaf cat, tap the surface it’s resting on rather than touching the cat directly, to avoid startling it.

Blind cats

Blind cats, whether born without sight or losing it gradually over time, need a bit of extra thought to live happily. Gradual vision loss with age is often missed by owners entirely, since cats tend to compensate well using their other senses.

Signs that a cat may be losing its sight include changes in behaviour, disorientation, discharge or swelling around the eye, visible changes in the eye’s appearance, and bumping into furniture or walls. Any of these warrant a vet visit.

For a blind cat, keep food and water bowls, the litter box and bed in consistent locations at all times. Keep blind cats indoors, fencing off any garden access for safety. Let your cat walk independently rather than carrying it everywhere, keep the floor clear of objects that could trip or block it, and approach calmly to avoid startling it.

With the right adjustments, disabled cats can live full, happy lives, and hopefully more people will come to see them as just as rewarding to adopt or foster as any other cat.

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