Introduction - Cataracts in Cats
The development of cataracts in the eyes of a cat is very rare. Unlike other animals, cats do not normally develop cataracts due to the effects of age. In most cases, a cat that develops cataracts has another underlying health condition that caused the cataract to develop as a symptom. If you suspect that your cat has a cataract, there are a number of diagnostic tests that your veterinarian will perform to confirm that a cataract is present and to find out why the cataract appeared.
Diagnosing Cataracts in Cats
In some cases, a cataract in a cat’s eye can be confused with another type of eye condition such as lenticular sclerosis or an injury to the eye. To find out exactly what has happened to your cat’s eye, the veterinarian will perform a few tests which include: the Schirmer tear test, staining the eye with a fluorescein dye, using a tonometer to test the pressure of the eye, and using a slit lamp instrument to examine the lens of the eye. These tests will either confirm, or rule out, the presence of a cataract.
If the diagnosis has been confirmed as a cataract, then addition blood tests will need to be performed to search for any underlying medical conditions in the cat that could have contributed to the development of the cataract. Some of the more common causes of cataracts in cats include: cancer, feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), feline infectious peritonitis, and the feline leukemia virus (FeLV). A complete blood panel test can check for underlying medical conditions, and specialized SNAP tests can be used to test for specific diseases such as FIV and FeLV.
If you notice any change in your cat’s eye, schedule an immediate appointment with your veterinarian. Many eye conditions can progress quickly if they are not treated in a timely manner; prompt diagnosis and treatment may help to save your cat’s vision and address a harmful medical condition that your cat may have.