[bigred]

Morris (or Morris the Mortal Enemy to my two) has apparently lost his sight. He is the cat that owns our complex - he's lived in three houses so far because he refuses to move when his humans move. He is about 15. His current human has sent us all an email saying that he has apparently lost his sight according to the vet, but because he must have been losing it for a while he is quite comfortable moving around our complex. All our houses are the same layout (he knocks on doors to be let in), and he tends to stay within our boundaries now (where everyone knows to look out for him). She asked us to look out for him if he looks confused, or is near the road, and to 'suggest' to him that perhaps he should remember that he should go home if it is getting late. He refuses to stay inside, and has been an outside during the day cat for so long that it would be too difficult to get him to stay in. Simply, he refuses to use the litter tray, even when he had an operation on his knee in his last place (one of those operations footballers have, can't think of the name). His human had to take him outside on the lead a few times a day for him to do his business.

My question is has anyone else had dealings with a cat with this problem? He hates me because he associates me with Claudius with whom he had a fight a couple of weeks ago (makes Claudius an even bigger bully, fighting a blind cat!). So he won't let me take him home. What can we do for him?

Get the idea he's a total character?

[Advert]

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[CatsRU]

Thank you for caring but I am sorry I don't have any advice.

[Heather Sharada]

Just wondering where he sleeps at night. Even being a character it sounds like his life will be much shorter. Where is his official owner living now?

Just a little confused. Even if he was taken outside three times a day to toilet surely his lot would be better inside......but I do understand what you are saying - sort of. Just don't understand why the original owner is not taking personal responsibility for him.

You are in a difficult place - I would hate to see him wandering around blind and would want to do something - but what??

[bigred]

He goes inside at night, he just won't handle being inside during the day. And as he won't use the litter trays, he just holds on. His owners have taken responsibility for him, he's just never been an inside cat even though the last two people who've looked after him have tried. By the time they started to look after him he was stuck in his ways.

His first people moved down the road, took him with him, but he kept coming back. People here would contact them to say he was here, they'd come and get him, but he'd return. They weren't ones to keep their cats inside. After a while it was decided that he'd move in with someone here, which he did. But they had to move and tried to take him with them (only to the next suburb), but he went crazy. So another person here took him in. We have a large common area with shrubs and trees etc and that's where he spends most of the day - it's rather like an extremely large backyard. I understand about the keeping cats in, my two are inside cats except for when I'm putting the washing out is when Claudius comes out with me (that's when he had a fight with Morris) and Rufus comes for walks on a lead. Everyone would love for him to be inside but they haven't been able to manage it. Even after the knee operation he was wanting to be out despite problems with walking.

I suppose after 15 years he does know the layout pretty well, but it could be confusing.

[Heather Sharada]

I can understand what you were saying and have no idea what to suggest but at least he is in at night - maybe stretch his night out to include a bit more daylight time??

Hopefully he will continue to manage the complex until he quietly goes to sleep in his favourite spot without any outside accidents.

Does anyone else have suggestions?

[♥Brooke♥]

We have a complex cat too, although she isn't blind. We set up an area with and put some shelter over the top so she can sleep in there of a night and if it is wet because she still refuses to stay indoors of a night. She will come in for 5 minutes and then howl to go back outside.

Maybe you could try setting up a small area with a nice comfortable bed and things and encourage him to spend more time in that area by having people visit it or something. It is what we did with Lily to make sure she stayed around the complex of a night as we are on a main road.

We also feed her in her little area and leave a water dish, and dry food all the time so she knows it is her spot.

[Trifon]

Is it possible to enclose the garden area that he likes to sleep in? It would enable him to be outside but would keep him safe.

Other idea is to keep him indoors and have someone escort him outside on a harness numerous times a day for toileting. If someone was home most of the time, this would be do-able I think?

I hope he stays safe.

[fleabag]

Well, as everyone is part of his care the first thing I'd do is a sign to warn visitors ...a picture of him ..with a notice..this cat is blind ..he will not see you coming ..please warn him you are coming ..His name is ...etc..
In one of his fave spots set up a comfy bed, and a snack pack, like Lily has ..try to keep his normal pathways clear..maybe bell him so YOU all know where he is ..
I like Heathers idea of extending his night time...

[bigred]

I think the idea of the sign is excellent and doable - we're having a complex get together next weekend and given that we're all his slaves...

Watching him on the weekend makes me think he isn't totally blind, it looked like he was looking around. I know he knows me by my voice, and probably other people as well, but he's worked out where everyone's places are, who's a soft touch, and who to avoid (me). Although he may jsut be moving his head around to 'look' through habit.

[Trifon]

or he could just be seeing shading of where things are at this point