My senior blind cat is in pain, losing balance. What should I do now?

I’m so sorry that Blaze is having trouble. It sounds like you need to take her to the vet. It may be that she has an orthopedic (bone or muscle) problem, or the problem maybe related to a neurological problem in her brain or spinal cord if it seems that her balance is off. If sounds like she may be painful, so please take her to your vet. They can help you determine what steps may be needed to find out what’s wrong, and at the very least can offer some pain medication to make her more comfortable. Best of luck with her.

This sounds like she may have retinal detachment which can be a result of uncontrolled high blood pressure. The blindness may be permanent. I would absolutely take her in right away since she has other symptoms also and the sooner she gets treatment the more likely she will be able to recover. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Liza.

Not necessarily. Senior cats do get several treatable aging diseases like hyperthyroidism, chronic renal failure, and heart abnormalities. With treatment they can improve and continue to live a comfortable life. I recommend a senior workout to determine if there is a treatable problem. She could also have cancer or a more serious medical condition that there is no treatment for. You’ll know more after an exam and blood work. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for your cat.

This does not sound normal and I recommend to have her examined today. A blind cat generally does not have trouble walking. Instead they tend to walk slowly and cautiously but they are not unbalanced. A sudden onset of neurological signs is always concerning and could indicate poisoning, a stroke from a blood clot or even potentially infectious diseases which can infect humans like Toxoplasmosis. I recommend to play it safe and have Kiki examined today. Especially with a concern for infectious disease for humans. I hope this helps.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The signs you describe can be caused by an irregularity in the spine - this may cause the bones to compress the actual spinal cord, damaging the nerves that are responsible for controlling the back legs and tail. A veterinary neurologist would be able to further diagnose the condition and propose a treatment plan, your original vet may be able to recommend one. I would be happy to take a look at x-rays or bloodwork and answer any questions you may have about them!

Losing balance in an old cat is not a good sign, common causes include hyperthyroidism, kidney failure, diabetes and cancer. You should take her to the vet ASAP in order to get that checked, she will need to have a blood test done.

Oh no, poor Bailey! I would be concerned that what you saw may have been a seizure or neurological problem. I would have her seen by a vet for this today, as in a senior cat, neurological problems can have serious causes such as brain tumors. In the meantime, keep her quiet and calm, and if something like this happens again, I would record it to show the vet.