Cat with a cataract in one eye lying down

Can cats get cataracts? Unlike dogs, primary cataracts or inherited cataracts are rare in cats.

Cat cataracts are usually acquired secondary to other diseases or eye abnormalities. Cataracts can cause significant issues for cats and affect their quality of life.

Outdoor cats are particularly prone to the detrimental consequences of vision loss, and compromised vision can make them more vulnerable to bullying or to accidents.

If you're concerned about your cat's cataracts or worried that your cat has sore eyes or any changes to its vision, please schedule an appointment with your veterinarian for an eye examination. Cat's eyes are very delicate structures, and if you're concerned about developing cataracts, early assessment is always advisable.

What Are Cataracts in Cats?

Cataracts are a disease that affects the lens of the eye. The lens is a structure in the eye which is responsible for focusing light onto the back of the eye. This allows the transfer of information to be carried to the brain via the optic nerve, allowing an image to be formed.

The lens can also focus on objects at different distances. For the lens to work effectively, it must be perfectly clear to allow light to pass through unhindered. For a cat with cataracts, the normally clear lens takes on a milky, white or cloudy appearance. This causes problems with eyesight because the light cannot pass through as well, and vision is reduced.

Causes of Feline Cataracts

The most common causes of cataracts in cats are severe inflammation of the eye, nutritional imbalance, infectious causes or poisoning. Less commonly in cats, cataracts can be caused by high blood glucose or inherited.

If inherited, the cataracts develop soon after birth or later in life due to the cat's genetic makeup. Certain breeds are more likely to get the inherited form of cataracts, such as:

What Do Cataracts in Cats Look Like?

The signs of cat eye cataracts include greyness in the eyes, cloudiness, and, in later stages, total blindness. You may also see other symptoms of cataracts in cats, which are more subtle, such as changes in your cat's behaviour.

Often, when their eyesight is becoming compromised, a cat with cataracts will exhibit behavioural changes, such as a loss of confidence, fear, reduced mobility, and decreased eagerness to jump. Outdoor cats may also spend less time outside. These behavioural changes are often due to struggling to navigate through the environment.

However, some cats have a very good mental map of the environment and can appear to cope very well, until the latter stages, when more severe vision loss can occur. To some extent, cats can also use their other senses to compensate, as cats have a very well-developed sense of hearing and smell. 

How Do Vets Test For Cataracts in Cats?

Even the early signs of cataracts in cats should be checked over by a vet. Your vet will examine your cat and do a thorough examination of your cat's eyes, called an ophthalmic examination.

It's important to differentiate cataracts from nuclear sclerosis, a condition that does not compromise vision. Nuclear sclerosis is a normal ageing change that can be observed in older cats and can have a very similar appearance.

If cataracts are suspected, your vet will likely conduct further testing, such as blood tests, checking your cat for high blood pressure, and sometimes ultrasonography, which allows for a more detailed examination of the eye.

Such testing is needed to determine possible causes and rule out any underlying medical problems affecting your cat. It may be that your vet advises that your pet is referred to a veterinary ophthalmologist if more specialised testing or treatment is required. 

Can Cataracts be Removed?

Your veterinarian may advise that your pet undergo surgery to remove the cataract. This procedure involves removing the lens of the eye, and multiple techniques are available.

The method used depends upon the extent of cataract formation and the cause. A specialist eye surgeon, called a veterinary ophthalmologist, carries out this procedure, and your vet will need to refer your pet for the procedure.

A common technique used is called phacoemulsification cataract surgery, which involves using ultrasonic waves created by a phacoemulsification unit to break down the cataract. The fragments of the lens are then removed. An artificial lens can then be placed within the lens capsule to optimise vision.

Treatment for Cataracts in Cats

Medication such as pain relief, antibiotics and topical eye drops are usually required after surgery, and your cat must be prevented from scratching or rubbing at the eyes following surgery.

In some cases, surgery is not the best treatment for your cat's cataracts, in which case your cat will need medication such as eye drops, and often anti-inflammatory eye drops, to manage their condition.

In such cases, it's important to keep the environment as familiar as possible. For instance, keeping your cat's food bowl and litter trays in the same locations and avoiding the movement of any furniture, which might impact your cat's mental map of its environment. 

Cats Living with Cataracts

Cataracts can have many causes and can cause various degrees of vision loss through structural changes to the lens. Cataracts usually progress. However, sometimes the progression can be quite slow and sometimes very rapid.

The speed of progression is dependent upon the underlying cause. So, if you suspect your cat is experiencing vision problems or their eyes appear abnormal in any way, it's essential to have them checked as soon as possible.

If your pet is diagnosed with cataracts, your vet will provide advice and a treatment plan that meets your pet's individual needs. If treated properly and promptly, cats with cataracts can lead a long, comfortable, and fulfilling life.

Everypaw Cat Insurance

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Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Felis - www.vetlexicon.com/treat/felis

Vetlexicon is the world’s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world’s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.

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