You would have never guessed your cat has this eye problem!

There are many diseases which animals suffer from but which go unnoticed due to lack of knowledge. Cataract is one such disease. In cats, it becomes tough to identify a disease because felines are good at hiding the pain. It should be kept in mind that these poker-faced animals suffer from some common problems that us humans do. Studying their behavior and regular health check-ups are the key to understanding what they are suffering from.

The main symptom of cataract is cloudiness over the eye which results in temporary blindness. If left untreated, the blindness can become permanent. Cats who develop cataracts will show abnormal behavior like going in the wrong way or not responding to visual treats. Activities like games and play are also affected. Some cats are born with cataracts and develop it when they become older. Even the walk can tell you whether they are suffering from vision loss or not.

Some cats won’t show any sign of cataract and will lead normal lives. Cataracts in cats mostly occur from the time they are born. Some cats develop it due to aging. Cataracts may not be life threatening but they can lead to permanent blindness. Some cataracts can be painful and irritating. Blurry vision leads to a change in lifestyle and cats with extreme cases will show abnormal behaviors.

Severe cataracts are usually treated with surgery. If a vet has recommended a surgery, then it should be done immediately because a delay can result in blindness in one or both the eyes. The latest treatment procedure is the phacoemulsification in which the cloudy lens is emulsified with an ultrasonic hand piece. Most cats go on to live normal lives after the surgery. In some cases, an extra lens can be added to improve the quality of vision. Side effects are less and success rates are quite high. In the last few years, technology has improved the treatment method and now surgery has become a routine treatment method.

Like humans, cats too catch diseases like cataract. The usual symptoms are blurred vision and cloudy eyes. In cataracts, the lens gets affected and the best treatment option is a surgery. The common behaviors that are seen in cats are abnormal walking and unusual posture. In some cases, cats won’t exhibit any signs of cataract but will still suffer from it. Routine checks are the best way to know whether is suffering from cataract or not. Any medicine or treatment method should not be administered without approval from an experienced vet. Cataracts are usually treatable and the side effects of treatment methods like surgery are minimal.