Orange Tabby...He Stays and His Name is Finn (Update with Videos Dec 31)

[Idaho Chicken Bungalow]

I love the name Finn

 

[speckledhen]

I wish Finn could keep the mouse population down, but he can no longer see to hunt, unfortunately. He used to be a great hunter, but those days are over, I'm afraid.

 

[speckledhen]

I have some bad news. Dr. McLaren says that Finn is blind. He does not react to sudden movement toward either eye. He has glaucoma in both eyes and gave us drops to relieve the pressure. He'd been getting drops for awhile already, doing all the things the other vet was trying, including getting lysine supplement every day, but then we were abandoned by that one. I wish these people would just say they didn't know what the problem was and not leave their patients hanging, not that it would have ended any differently, I guess.

Dr. McLaren is much more experienced, apparently has seen everything under the sun, owns that feed store that is next door to his vet's office. He asked if Finn got in a cat fight at any point in time. And years ago, he did have a tussle with a local cat a couple of times-Finn was very territorial- did battle, got the backs of his front legs shredded, went to the vet for antibiotics at the time. The vet said the eye issue could have started there, maybe he caught some virus from that cat. That cat was never seen again so it may have succumbed to its wounds later as cat scratch wounds are very likely to become infected, as you know.

It's amazing that Finn manages to get around as much as he does so I think he must see some light and shadow and be going on muscle memory and feeling with his whiskers at times. They could take both eyes out, but I don't want to take away any light that might get in there. That would also be very, very expensive. I think he may be a bit depressed as it is. Poor, sweet cat. At least we took him in 8 years ago and maybe gave him more of a life than he would have had otherwise. I was hoping he'd be with us much longer. My husband is already devastated, knowing his best friend is suffering this way, such a vital cat brought to this. We want him to be comfortable and not in pain. We have drops to relieve the pressure in his eyes, Dorzolamide/Timolol drops. Pressure in the cataract eye measured 34, in the other one was 80.

 

[TropicalBabies]

Finn is a wonderful friend. I'm glad he found you.
I have a sight impared cat due to a head injury before we found him as a young kitten. He does pretty good, inside a little more than his fellows. He finds his way with his whiskers and relies on his smell a lot. He still climbs trees (slowly), (tries to) hunt for bugs and even makes it up to our ramp access shop roof. We have a fenced yard so he gets to be inside/outside but we do keep an extra eye out on him and make accommodations- like keeping favorite sleeping spots clutter free and giving him ramps so he can still adventure. He, Mochi, is the grey tabby in the middle.

I'm sure your boy will go through some depression but he has people who he loves and care for him so he should be fine after his adjustment.
Bless you for taking care of that sweet soul. I wish you many more happy years.

 

[speckledhen]

Thank you for that. Your guy is so handsome and he has some good friends, looks like.

 

[TropicalBabies]

Thank you for that. Your guy is so handsome and he has some good friends, looks like.

He is special ♡ nice having one who sticks around a bit more and takes actual interest in us lol... though I do wish it was free will and/or different circumstances. I have a feeling if his sight was up to snuff he would be very aloof and independent.
My good friends later in life sight imparred boy lived to 18! Very healthy and happy and great companion. She replaced him with 3 bottle fed rescues I raised. She went from a cool and calm boy to 3 playfully insane girls lol. Pretty sure she secretly hates me now

 

[N F C]

I have some bad news. Dr. McLaren says that Finn is blind. He does not react to sudden movement toward either eye. He has glaucoma in both eyes and gave us drops to relieve the pressure. He'd been getting drops for awhile already, doing all the things the other vet was trying, including getting lysine supplement every day, but then we were abandoned by that one. I wish these people would just say they didn't know what the problem was and not leave their patients hanging, not that it would have ended any differently, I guess.

Dr. McLaren is much more experienced, apparently has seen everything under the sun, owns that feed store that is next door to his vet's office. He asked if Finn got in a cat fight at any point in time. And years ago, he did have a tussle with a local cat a couple of times-Finn was very territorial- did battle, got the backs of his front legs shredded, went to the vet for antibiotics at the time. The vet said the eye issue could have started there, maybe he caught some virus from that cat. That cat was never seen again so it may have succumbed to its wounds later as cat scratch wounds are very likely to become infected, as you know.

It's amazing that Finn manages to get around as much as he does so I think he must see some light and shadow and be going on muscle memory and feeling with his whiskers at times. They could take both eyes out, but I don't want to take away any light that might get in there. That would also be very, very expensive. I think he may be a bit depressed as it is. Poor, sweet cat. At least we took him in 8 years ago and maybe gave him more of a life than he would have had otherwise. I was hoping he'd be with us much longer. My husband is already devastated, knowing his best friend is suffering this way, such a vital cat brought to this. We want him to be comfortable and not in pain. We have drops to relieve the pressure in his eyes, Dorzolamide/Timolol drops. Pressure in the cataract eye measured 34, in the other one was 80.

So sorry to hear this Cyn, big hugs for Finn and you

 

[h2oratt]

I have some bad news. Dr. McLaren says that Finn is blind. He does not react to sudden movement toward either eye. He has glaucoma in both eyes and gave us drops to relieve the pressure. He'd been getting drops for awhile already, doing all the things the other vet was trying, including getting lysine supplement every day, but then we were abandoned by that one. I wish these people would just say they didn't know what the problem was and not leave their patients hanging, not that it would have ended any differently, I guess.

Dr. McLaren is much more experienced, apparently has seen everything under the sun, owns that feed store that is next door to his vet's office. He asked if Finn got in a cat fight at any point in time. And years ago, he did have a tussle with a local cat a couple of times-Finn was very territorial- did battle, got the backs of his front legs shredded, went to the vet for antibiotics at the time. The vet said the eye issue could have started there, maybe he caught some virus from that cat. That cat was never seen again so it may have succumbed to its wounds later as cat scratch wounds are very likely to become infected, as you know.

It's amazing that Finn manages to get around as much as he does so I think he must see some light and shadow and be going on muscle memory and feeling with his whiskers at times. They could take both eyes out, but I don't want to take away any light that might get in there. That would also be very, very expensive. I think he may be a bit depressed as it is. Poor, sweet cat. At least we took him in 8 years ago and maybe gave him more of a life than he would have had otherwise. I was hoping he'd be with us much longer. My husband is already devastated, knowing his best friend is suffering this way, such a vital cat brought to this. We want him to be comfortable and not in pain. We have drops to relieve the pressure in his eyes, Dorzolamide/Timolol drops. Pressure in the cataract eye measured 34, in the other one was 80.

I am so sorry

 

[speckledhen]

Thought I'd update Finn's thread. He's supposedly completely blind, his eyes look like marbles. He's slowing down a lot now, sleeps more, but then, he is over 11 years old. The vet said he would not be likely to live to 15. Not sure why that particular number. My husband and I just today were talking about how he can't hunt anymore, never brings home prey, etc. Then, this afternoon as I was coming back from the barn, my husband called me from the deck and said incredulously, "Finn caught a mouse!". I was skeptical but by the time I got to the steps, I saw Finn chowing down on a tiny mouse. Hubby said he came out from under the deck carrying something, then it got away from the cat and he saw it was a mouse. Then, Finn managed to catch it again and he had quite a warm snack. How on earth does a blind cat catch mice? It has to be his spectacular hearing. I saw an example of that just last week when he warned us of an intruder, story below.
Finn has never done this before; he was almost asleep on my husband's lap in a recliner in front of the TV, his favorite place, when he jumped up, looked toward the kitchen door, which was open w/screen latched. I think I heard him actually growl when he jumped down to the floor, then he went halfway to the door, sat and craned his head up and forward, scenting the air. I checked the security cam pointed down the driveway and switched it to the kitchen door view, couldn't see anything out of order, but the cat was still laser focused on the door. Then, after we made sure he backed away, we went outside and we saw this humongous Mastiff-looking dog trotting through the yard. He/she had a collar on, but no tags to make any noise. My hubs hardly ever closes the driveway gate when he comes home from errands because of his back, painful getting in and out of the SUV, and the dog must have come into the perimeter that way. We make an effort to keep that gate closed, but it has never stopped Finn from leaving.
Finn still goes down the driveway and across the dirt road to a neighbor's house. I think they still have a cat over there, must be female because no fights. He refuses to stay inside the fence. Even with the driveway gate closed, he climbs over and then, he climbs back in. He came to us as a wanderer almost 10 years ago (Nov will be 10 yrs) and he never changed. I guess one day, he'll be caught by something because he's unable to see things until he touches them, always running into doors and gingerly feels his way down the stairs. He could never outrun a predator, but he would be miserable if kept inside 24/7 so we let him be him, for better or worse.

 

[N F C]

Finn is a perfect example of how special cats are...hard to believe it's been almost 10yrs since he came to you Cynthia.