Introduction
Cataracts in cats may be treated through surgery, and in some cases prescription medications may help to increase the cat’s vision around the cataract. However, many pet owners decide not to treat cataracts as many cats adjust to the loss of vision without any troubles.
Treating Cataracts in Cats
Medication
Cataracts that occur in very young kittens due to genetic conditions sometimes spontaneously improve, and the cataract is slowly reabsorbed into the eye. In cases where a cataract has just occurred and the level of opacity is low (classified as immature or incomplete cataracts) then prescription eye drops may help the cat’s vision. The most common eye drop used for this purpose is atropine, and it is applied to the eye two to three times a week.
Dietary Supplementation
Cataracts that occur as a result of nutritional deficiency cannot always be treated with supplements, but their progression can be slowed or stopped with dietary supplementation. Vitamin E and Vitamin C supplements are also believed to slow the progression of any type of cataract.
Surgery
The only way to effectively treat a cat’s cataracts is to remove the lens through surgery. However, this is an expensive operation and many veterinarians believe it is unnecessary due to the cat’s ability to adjust to a life with incomplete, or even total, loss of vision.
Cats use their sense of smell for the majority of their navigation skills, and cats actually do not have very good vision to begin with. In fact, many cats navigate so well that it is difficult to tell that they are blind. Cats with decreased or total loss of vision will however need to be kept indoors at all times for their safety.