Do Cats Get Cataracts? How Do You Know?

You might be familiar with cataracts as an eye problem that many older adults deal with. This cloudiness of the eye lens can block the transmission of light to the retina and cause pain as well as partial or total loss of vision. Thankfully cataracts can sometimes be treated by specialists. One thing that many people don’t know, however, is that cataracts aren’t exclusive to humans. Did you know that cats are susceptible to cataracts too?

Cataracts aren’t something that most people think of regularly, so I would like to give you some information on them. It could help you recognize and treat the condition in your cat. Today’s article not only provides general information, they also explain how cataracts affect your cat and what you can do to treat them.

There are many causes of cataracts. The most common form of cataracts in dogs is a genetically inherited type. What age and how severely the cataracts affect your cat varies among different breeds of cats but typically affects older cats more frequently than younger ones.

Cataracts may also develop following trauma to the eye, in association with metabolic diseases such as diabetes, from nutritional disorders during kittenhood, or secondary to other eye diseases. Cataracts may also develop spontaneously in old age. To learn more go to: Cataracts in Cats.

This condition isn’t the only one that can affect your cat’s eyes. It should not be confused with nuclear or lenticular sclerosis, a change that often occurs in the feline lens and does not cause blindness. To learn more about this condition and see a photo click Here.

Heredity is not the only factor for cataracts, so even if your cat’s history is cataract-free they could still be at risk. Any sort of eye trauma can lead to cataracts so it is always important to see a vet if your cat has an injury to his or her eyes.

By the way – Pollen, sticks, and even grass can irritate a cat’s eyes. If your dog shows any signs of irritation or sensitivity around the delicate eye tissues, please visit your vet as soon as possible.