- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
If one or both of your cat’s eyes has a cloudy appearance, they may have a progressive eye condition known as cataracts. Often, cataracts in cats begin as small gray-white blobs that gradually expand to cover the entire lens with a cloudy film.
Cataracts develop when the lens of the eye clouds over. The lens of the eye helps filter light to the retina and optic nerve, so this clouding stops light from entering your cat’s retina and leads to vision loss over time—though treatment can help.
Any cat can develop cataracts, regardless of age or breed. Possible causes include chronic health problems like high blood pressure, eye infections and inflammation, trauma to the eye, and older age.
Read on for a closer exploration of cataracts in cats, including symptoms, causes, and options for treating feline cataracts.
What Causes Cataracts in Cats?
“Cataracts are considerably less common in cats than they are in dogs,” says Dr. Casey Robinson, DVM, an ophthalmological veterinarian and the Area Medical Director for IndeVets.
Dr. Robinson adds, though, that cataracts caused by illness, disease, or infection can cause pain and lead to serious secondary eye problems like glaucoma.
While diabetes is a main cause of cataracts in dogs, cataracts in cats most commonly happen as part of the natural aging process. Cataracts that have no underlying medical cause show up, on average, around age nine.
Senior cats who have age-related cataracts and no health complications may slowly develop larger cataracts—without painful side effects. In short, you generally don’t need to worry about cataracts in your senior cat, as long as your vet rules out underlying health concerns.
Other possible causes of cataracts in cats include:
Infection and eye inflammation (uveitis)
Dr. Robinson says uveitis, or eye inflammation, is the most common causes of cataracts in cats. Feline uveitis frequently stems from a problem in another part of the body. For example, research links uveitis to:
- Bacterial and fungal infections
- Feline leukemia virus (FeLV)
- Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)
- Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP)
- Toxoplasmosis
Genetics
Young cats and kittens can also develop cataracts.
Juvenile hereditary cataracts may stem from malnutrition, but these cataracts are often directly caused by mutations or variants in certain genes. Certain breed-specific genes may also cause hereditary cataracts in Russian Blue, Persian, and Bengal cats.
Eye trauma
Deep scratches and puncture wounds to the eyes can also contribute to cataract formation. This is even more likely to happen with a perforated lens injury, or an injury to the lens of the cat’s eye.
How to Tell If Your Cat Has Cataracts
The main sign of cataracts in cats is the distinctive clouding of the eye. This gray-white film can partially or fully cover the cornea and colored iris.
Some other conditions, like nuclear sclerosis, can resemble cataracts. With nuclear sclerosis, the proteins break down and tissue fibers clump up in the lens of the eye. Nuclear sclerosis sometimes also leaves the eye cloudy, but this condition doesn’t cause vision changes.
Behavioral changes
Cats are unusually skilled at masking their pain, says Dr. Geri Katz, DVM, American Association of Feline Practitioner and founder of the feline-only veterinary clinic Aristokatz. Often, pain and discomfort will show up as behavior changes.
In the case of cataracts, especially ones not yet visible in the eye, you may notice your cat seems cautious and uneasy in familiar places. For example, a cat with cataracts may:
- Have difficulty finding their food and water bowls and litter boxes
- Show changes in balance by misjudging jumps or falling
- Bump into furniture and other objects
When to speak to a vet
Dr. Robinson advises cat parents to monitor their cat’s eyes regularly. If you notice any sort of changes in your cat’s eyes, from discharge to redness to clouding, he recommends making an appointment with your vet right away.
Early diagnosis and treatment is the most effective way to catch cataracts, pinpoint the root cause, and slow or fully prevent cataract-induced blindness.
Can Cats With Cataracts Still Live A Full, Happy Life?
As a general rule, cats tend to adjust and adapt to life after vision loss without too much difficulty or distress. This is because their other senses, like touch, hearing, and smell, amplify when they lose their vision.
Many veterinarians, including Dr. Robinson and Dr. Katz, agree that blind cats are just as capable of living long and happy lives as cats who have full vision.
Improving quality of life for cats with vision loss
One of your cat’s many superpowers includes a knack for mapping out their environment—even if they’re partially or fully blind!
That said, consistency is essential. To put it simply, cat parents caring for a visually impaired kitty need to ensure they keep food and water bowls, litter boxes, and toys in the same spots.
Dr. Robinson also advises microchipping blind cats and keeping them indoors—though you can always try an enclosed catio if they enjoy fresh air and outside smells. He also suggests using baby gates or other furniture to block off danger areas, like unfamiliar staircases, to prevent accidental falls and other injuries.
Do Cats Need Treatment for Cataracts?
Untreated cataracts in cats may eventually lead to partial vision loss and sometimes total blindness. However, when cataracts don’t stem from serious underlying health conditions, cats with cataracts can still enjoy a good quality of life.
Cataract progression can vary widely from cat to cat, depending on the cause, your cat’s age, and their health status. For example, an FIV-positive cat with high blood pressure and existing retinal issues might experience faster cataract growth than a senior cat without any other health conditions.
Your vet can always offer more insight into possible progression timelines and treatment options for your cat, though they can’t make any guarantees about the timeline of your cat’s cataracts.
If your cat shows any signs of eye trouble, Dr. Robinson and Dr. Katz emphasize the importance of prompt attention from your vet. Your cat’s eyes are sensitive organs, and untreated health issues can rapidly lead to serious damage that may be irreversible.
Untreated cataracts may lead to:
- Glaucoma
- Lens luxation
- Retinal detachment
- Inflammation
- Vision loss or blindness
Timely treatment, however, can make a difference. If the cataracts relate to a health condition, like hypertension (high blood pressure), medically managing the condition can help slow the cataract progression and ease painful side effects, Dr. Robinson says.
Are there medication options?
No medications can cure cataracts. Veterinarians can prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory eye drops to help decrease inflammation, but this treatment won’t dissolve existing cataracts or prevent glaucoma.
Over-the-counter options, like N-acetylcarnosine eye drops, have limited clinical trial evidence. What’s more, these products aren’t regulated like licensed medications, and the benefits remain largely unproven.
Surgery For Cataracts In Cats
Cataracts are only reversible through surgery. Early surgical intervention is the most effective approach to reverse cataracts, restore your cat’s vision, and prevent secondary health issues.
Currently, there aren’t any non-invasive, non-surgical treatments for cataracts. Experts largely consider phacoemulsification surgery the best course of treatment, as it has a high success rate, Dr. Robinson explains.
Not only does it successfully treat cataracts over 90% of the time, it’s a safe procedure for cats of all ages and will instantly restore your cat’s vision. That said, some cats with certain intraocular diseases aren’t good candidates for this surgery, since it can make their existing conditions worse.
Phacoemulsification surgery takes about an hour. Your cat will receive general anesthesia for the procedure, which involves making small cuts in the cornea and lens and using an ultrasonic probe to break up and disintegrate the cataract with sound waves. The veterinary ophthalmologist finishes the procedure by inserting an artificial lens.
Your cat may be able to return home the same day.
What’s the cost?
The cost of this surgery can range from $2,000 to $8,000, depending on your location as well as your cat’s individual circumstances and needs.
Many pet insurance companies cover eye surgeries. However, insurance may not cover surgery for cataracts caused by an pre-existing health condition. A good first step involves checking your specific insurance policy for coverage details.
Surgery side effects
Your cat may experience some mild aftereffects as they recover from surgery. It’s important to monitor these side effects and contact your vet if they get worse.
A cat recovering from cataract surgery may:
- Have mild light sensitivity
- Squint for the first 24 hours after surgery
- Have redness in the whites of the eyes or around the sutures in the eyes
- Have white, clear, light yellow, or pink discharge a few days after surgery
Your vet will offer more information about possible complications and more serious side effects before the surgery.
Short-term, minor complications include:
- Ulcers around the incision site
- Infection
- Inflammation (uveitis)
Rare but serious complications include:
- Retina detachment
- Surgical site failure
- Synechiae
Surgery aftercare
Recovery from cataract surgery also varies from cat to cat, and full recovery can take anywhere from four to eight weeks.
Aftercare will usually include a combination of topical and oral medications that prevent surgical site trauma. You’ll also have several follow-up visits with the veterinary ophthalmologist to make sure no surgery complications develop.
For example, your cat’s recovery may involve:
- Daily oral medications and eye drops for the first two weeks after surgery
- Post-operative recheck the day after surgery
- Post-op rechecks every few weeks
- Yearly eye exams
- Long-term anti-inflammatory medication
As your cat recovers, be sure to give them plenty of love and cuddles and encourage them to rest quietly!