The title of this post, “My cat keeps bumping into things”, is something I typed into Google a couple of weekends ago. One day we were in the bathroom and our cat, Munchie, walked nose-first into the bath panel. Our instant reaction was to laugh at him (I know, we shouldn’t do that), but we thought he just wasn’t looking where he was going. He is easily distracted. Like me.
My wife commented that a couple of times during the previous week, she’d seem him bump into things and thought nothing of it.
Earlier in the day, we’d checked out his legs because he’d started bunny-hopping down stairs rather than bombing down like usual, but his legs were fine.
Then he walked into a thermostat value on a radiator in the hall. Then the edge of a table. Then a wall in the kitchen. Once you notice something, you notice it everywhere. Of the three of us, Munchie handled it the best and me the worst. I do whittle!
It was a bank holiday weekend, so at the first opportunity we took him to the vets who looked into his eyes and diagnosed TWO detached retinas. Both eyes were affected and the vet decided he could probably see shadows, but nothing else. The bunny-hopping probably as he couldn’t see the stairs.
Cats navigate their way through smell as well as sight. That’s why they rub up against everything. They’re leaving their scent so they know where they are and even though he couldn’t see, he continued to find his food dish, go outside and sit in his favourite chair.
After blood pressure, blood and urine tests – obtaining a urine sample from a cat is fun. We waited until he climbed into his litter tray and threw a plastic bowl underneath – the vets diagnosed kidney disease and possible heart disease. These raised his blood pressure and popped his retinas.
The vet gave him a couple of tablets and us more tablets to give him each day and we arranged to take him back in a few days. Over that weekend we noticed that he stopped bumping into things. The visit to the vets last week confirmed one of his retinas has reattached already. The other is better than it was.
More tablets.
Another visit is planned for next week and hopefully we can control the kidney disease and maintain healthier blood pressure so he doesn’t start bumping into things again.
He’s also started a renal diet, lower in protein and phosphates and high in cost to help reduce the load on his kidneys.
How is Munch?
At no stage has he seemed bothered by any of it! His routine is the same and it is obvious he can now see something. Whether it is back to normal, we’ll never know, but hopefully, the tablets will keep him with the vision he has now. The vets seemed confident that the tablets would stop it getting worse. I hope they’re right.
In the meantime, he continues with his pampered lifestyle. 🙂
If your cat starts bumping into things. Take them to the vet as soon as possible. Early treatment can make all the difference.
Pete Denton 
Like you, the first thing I’d do is laugh at the situation but now, well I’m really sorry Pete. I’m sorry for poor Munchie who must have been quite disoriented at keep bumping into things. I’m also sorry that he’s suffering kidney and heart disease.Most of all though I’m probably sorry for the person who has to give Munchie tablets unless he’s one of those rare cats who takes them easily or at least mixed with food.
Oscar was a pain with tablets. It was arms ripped to shreds time trying to give them to him and refusal of food in the dish if tablets were there. In case you have these problems let me say, get a peashooter and all will be solved!
I hope things are soon back to normal and that you and the family are keeping well.
Thanks, David.
I’ve had those cats who just eat their tablets as if they know they’re good for them. Munchie is NOT one of those cats. We are EVIL and trying to poison him, after the ganging up on him and the assault. Still we persist 🙂
We did try crushing them up in his food, he doesn’t eat it so assault and battery will continue though the peashooter sounds good 🙂
Yikes… I’m glad your furbaby is feeling better (might I add that he looks just like my Newton on that pic!!), and I hope it will keep up for the future as well!
Thanks, Linda. He’s now on three tablets a day. So much fun giving cats tablets! He does seem better and can certainly see some things again so it’s all worth it.
I wish Munch will get better soon 🙂
Thanks, Dolly 🙂
Poor kitty. Glad he has a good parent like you to take care of him. We had to give eye drops to one of our kitties and antibiotic to the other. Yikes! We practically had to wrestle these guys to get the medicating done. I can’t imagine giving pills!
I’ve been there with the drops in the eyes. Tablets are equal fun and I have the scars on my arms to prove it!
Aww, poor guy. We laugh at our cats when they do goofy things, too. Munchie is fortunate to have people who care about him and take such good care of him. How old is he?
Thanks. We took him in as a stray and the first time we took him to the vets they thought he was about 2 or 3. That would make him 11 or 12 now though the last visit the vet thought he was about 14. He seems much better now the tablets have kicked in and is no longer bumping into things. 🙂
I am so happy for you guys and little Munch. I spent over $3000 on my cat when he was sick. We got 5 more years with him. Just spent over 1k on an emergency surgery on my pup. If we hadn’t, she would have died. They’re like our kids, and while the cost may put us in the poor house, they’re worth every dime. Besides, they don’t care where they live, as long as they are with their humans. All my best to Munch and wishing for a speedy, 100% recovery.
Thanks. I know what you mean. We don’t begrudge paying the bills or buying him the more expensive renal cat food. He’s worth it. Even when he’s biting us as we give him his tablets or clawing large lines down my arm 🙂
What a heartbreaking story, but great information to share. I found out on a recent visit to the vet that our cat was quite overweight and needed to lose about 2 lbs, around 20% of her body weight. My first reaction was “who cares if she’s overweight?” But the vet informed me it can lead to hypertension and type 2 diabetes, just as in humans. We’ve cut back on her food. She’s lost about a pound, but just as in humans, we can’t seem to get that last pound off!
Glad Munch is doing better.
Thanks. Munch has flirted with being overweight, but seems to have kept his down. We did used to give him more lunches than we do now. EVERYONE has problems with that last pound 🙂
As you probably know, I am no fan of cats. But I’m glad to know your is getting better.
Still it’s never too late to get a Seeing Eye rat.
A seeing eye rat would be a great idea. I’ll have to google one of those 🙂
Aww poor Munch. Hope he gets better soon. Cats are so difficult to treat though aren’t they. I used to have a cat that was hilarious when you gave him a pill, he would take it willingly, do a movement that looked very much like he had swallowed it, smile at us (seriously!), then walk away and spit it out! We fell for it every time…
Some days we manage to give him his THREE tablets. Other days it would be easier to tunnel across the Atlantic. I’d probably have fewer scratches digging the tunnel as well. 🙂
Ohhh poor Munch, good job you noticed the signs and really pleased for you that he seems to have responded to the meds. They are such a part of your family and when they get ill it’s really heartbreaking. I had to take my cat last week as she developed a lump (she’s 16) and the vet declared her to be ‘a bit portly’ and thought it was a resulting fat lump! Phew, but very worrying all the same!
He does seem much better. He doesn’t like taking three tablets a day! Glad your cat is only “portly”
We are huge cat lovers and the first part of your story hit home – often it has taken a while for us to notice something is wrong. It broke my heart, but I was so glad to read on to a happier ending. We lost two cats last year and it was hard. Give Munch lots of hugs and pets every day!
He read your comment and is DEMANDING more attention. I will happily oblige 🙂
Sorry about your cats. It is hard when you lose them. Unfortunately, I’ve been there many times. He does seem to be responding to the meds so hopefully that continues. 🙂
So glad Munch is better. I’ve had to do the pill thing with cats. No fun.
Not fun at all. The vet says he could live for years with his meds. The thought of giving him THREE tables a day for years is both daunting and encouraging. 🙂
Poor Munchie… glad you picked it up in time. Our old cat has had kidney issues for a number of years and is now on medication… he doesn’t much like the tablets. He clamps his jaws shut, given he only has three teeth, prising his mouth open is harder than it used to be but we persevere!
They’re probably on the same tablets. It is fun isn’ it? I’m just glad there are two of us. I don’t think we would be able to do this on our own!
🙂
Have you tried the old wrap the cat in the towel trick to stop the flailing claws, then you just have to get the jaws open. Hopefully Munchie is better behaved than Simba who holds his breath.!
He doesn’t hold his breath, he’s not tried that one. Yet.
We have tried the towel and he managed to squirm out of it. Some days it works like a dream others are the nightmare 🙂
Glad to hear Munch is doing better! If someone could invent a way to give medications that animals (heck, and people!) wouldn’t mind, they would make a fortune. 🙂
They would make a fortune. I need to get my thinking cap on!
I’m so glad you were on top of this and got it taken care of so quickly! I am so glad he can see better. Hope the kidney disease is managed well and he lives a long and full life. 🙂
Thanks, Kourtney. He objects to the tablets, but has no say in the matter!
I hope you’re okay after your crash.
They always do. With emerson, I hide it in bread. He loves bread–practically swallows it whole. Thanks. I appreciate the kind thoughts. Going to be a while. But I’m resting and trying to get better.
Good to hear you’re resting up. I wish Munch liked anything we could hide the tablets inside! If we could just have one conversation that we both understood so I could tell him to eat his damned tablets so he won’t go blind or die from heart/kidney disease. I swear he thinks we’re trying to poison him 🙂
Wow. So glad things are getting better though.
Thanks, Russel
Thinking good thoughts for Munchie… 🙂
Thanks, EllaDee
Poor munchie and poor parents.what reasonably seemed a bit amusing at first was pretty scary. Bet those extra cuddles are helping too;-)
He does seem to be enjoying the extra attention. Apart from when we stuff the tablets down his throat. That he’s not so keen on 🙂
I hope Munchie continues to get better. I had no idea detached retinas could heal themselves, but I am happy (for Munchie) that they do.
Thank you. It is most bizarre. When the vet said both retinas we detached we presumed that was it. He suggested the medication might help a little bit, but they both seem to have re-attached. We’ll never know to what extent, but at least he seems to be able to see enough to navigate his way around. If only it were that simple in humans!
I’m glad you took action, and glad Munch has improved. One of my guinea pigs has developed a similar condition, fortuntately without the detached retinas… so far. Keep up the good work!
Thanks, Jemima. The medication does seem to be working. Hope your guinea pig improves.
A year ago this summer I moved into my current house and soon after I took in a foster cat named Shadow. He was a wonderful kitty and fit right into my family of four-legged furry creatures. Two months later he died of kidney failure. He didn’t bump into walls or show a lot of signs. One day he was Shadow trying to trip me and sleeping on the front porch and then he was lying helpless unable to move. Then next day after a visit to the vet, he was gone. I have always regretted not getting him to the doctor in time despite the doctor assuring me that he was sick when he came to stay.
Now, I watch all my babies like a hawk. I am so glad that you were able to get Munch help and that you posted this so others can help their babies.
Thanks, Rose. Sorry to hear about Shadow. Years ago I had two kittens join the family. One started drooling on things. I never thought anything of it at first, until it got worse and I took her to the vets. A few weeks later I had to have her put to sleep. A tumour in her mouth caused the problems and linked to her feline leukemia,
I know what you mean about watching others like a hawk. It has made me react more quickly to any changes. Hopefully this time we caught it early enough.
Good on you for doing something about his strange behaviour. Of course, having to give him all those pills every day is no reward at all!
Our little Jack (Russell) is very easy to dose unlike other pets we have had and I thank my lucky stars every time I have to feed her a pill. She knows full well you have something for her but I just break the tablet up and put a bit of peanut butter on the pieces, she can’t help but scoff them down! 😀
Good to hear that the pills are having a positive effect though.
Thanks. We’re experimenting with crushing them and putting them in his food. Sometimes it works and sometimes …
Best wishes for your family and Munch! I lost my best friend in May and still am reeling from the loss.
Thank you. I know what you mean. It took me a long time to recover when our last cat died as we’d been together for 14 years. I hope time eases the loss.
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Hi Pete, just been reading your blog and it’s given me some hope! Our week has been the same as your blog. Our cat was diagnosed with detached retinas this week after bumping into things at home and we noticed her eyes were huge. Vet has run tests and she has high BP and her kidney function is higher than normal but they still don’t know what’s up. Waiting for more results next week. Due to get her a heart scan on 17 Dec. We have to give her BP tablet every day, so it’s now day 3. She’s moving around the house well, but we are sure she is still blind and purely getting around by using her other senses, I just hope that after reading your blog that she might get some sight back too! The vets aren’t optimistic at all which makes me feel very sad. I need to keep hope that she may get some visuals back! She isn’t old either. We had her from aged 2/3 and so is only max 8 yrs old. Dreading the other tests results but for now just glad she’s still with us and back home. Positive thoughts and all. ;0)
Sorry for the delay in responding. Been on a break.
I hope she regains some of her sight. Once the blood pressure was under control his retinas returned to normal and he can see again. He’s not back to normal and there are still times when I don’t think he can see still, but he manages to get around the house.
I hope the other results are okay and you get better results than our Munch did.
Aw, bless him. Well I hope he will be back to normal soon if not already. I would be worried sick if either of my cats started just walking into things. Although, they do tend to crash into things quite often lol
Thanks, Kev. The medication certainly has brought him some vision back. His diabetes is probably more of an issue now!
Hi,
What medication are you giving your cat?
He was on fortekor for his kidney disease, Atenolol for his heart and Istin for his blood pressure.
Hope that helps
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