I though that this week I would give you all a different perspective of life with a blind cat rather than life as a blind cat. So, I’m giving my big brother Peppar a guest edit this week so he can tell you what it’s like to live with a blind cat (well two really now we’ve got Angelin as well).
Hello everyone, it’s me, Jenny’s big brother Peppar. I’m what you would probably consider a ‘normal’ cat, mummy and daddy got me from a pet shop when I was very young. I was very scared when I was there, it was noisy and I was kept in a cage with my sister, people would come in and out, poking at us in the cage, picking us up and then putting us back. I honestly believe that I too was rescued by them just in different circumstances to Jenny, Millie and Angelin. When I was little I was scared of everything, any noise would make me cower and hide for ages in the darkest furthest away place I could find. However mummy and daddy showed me patience and my confidence grew as I realised they wouldn’t let anything hurt me, as I’ve grown up I’ve got much more chilled out. I grew up with two big sisters Misty and Mia, again both ‘normal’ cats but they weren’t the cuddling kind of girls. I’d also never been a big brother before as I was always the youngest but I’d always wanted someone to play with. Misty and Mia weren’t the rough and tumble kind of cat and were never really up for a snuggle. If I wanted to snuggle I would have to wait until Misty got on mummy’s lap and then sneak my way on too and gradually keep shuffling along until Misty and I were touching.
Then this mysterious cat arrived late one night, I wasn’t allowed to go and say hello straight away but I went to see her anyway and checked her out under the door. When she was allowed out a couple of days later I made sure I was there right at the door to see her, I wanted her to know that she was welcome here in our home. I knew she would be scared meeting her new family and being in her new home as I had been through that many years ago when I joined the family. I wanted her to see a friendly face – I was so excited about being a big brother. Mummy opened the door and I saw Jenny for the first time. She was so pretty, so small but so friendly, she wasn’t scared or timid at all, she came right out, said hello to me and was off exploring the flat.
I followed her round the flat just in case she needed me for anything or just some moral support. Of course I had noticed that she didn’t have any eyes but us cats don’t really care much about things like that or any other disabilities for that matter, we generally treat each other all the same regardless of any differences. I was just hopeful that we could be friends and play and snuggle with each other. Before Jenny came along I had never seen or met a blind cat but I did help look after Misty when she got very old and frail which meant having to make adjustments for her to be able to get about. I thought that maybe with a blind cat I would need to do something similar. I was wrong!
We hit it off straight away, I think Jenny liked having a big brother and I loved having a little sister. Over the last nearly two years Jenny and I have become really close despite us being quite far apart in age, I’m 13 now but I still love playing and running around and as long as I’m allowed to share mummy’s pillow with her at night then everything’s ok.
There are a few things that you have to get used to living with a blind cat. I didn’t know this to start with, it’s something that I’ve learnt as we’ve gone along. The most important thing is that you don’t treat them any differently to any other cat. Jenny is very quiet as she’s moving around so you can be doing something quietly minding your own business and then turn around and there she is right behind you, just sitting there looking right at you! It’s a bit freaky sometimes.
You have to get used to being jumped on, I like to sit on the back of the sofa and that is also the way Jenny learnt to get onto the perch behind where mummy sits, she jumps onto the sofa then reaches out to see where the back is, then jumps up onto the back and into the bed at the top of the perch. Sometimes she gets the angle a bit wrong and instead of jumping onto the empty bit of the sofa she jumps on me! When she first did it I would think she was doing is on purpose and get upset at her but now I understand that she can’t always help it. As soon as she realises, there is a split second when her paws or whiskers first touch my fur when she realises the angle is wrong and that she is going to jump on me and she tries to adjust herself so she lands on me a bit less.
When living with a blind cat you have to expect to be jumped on, sat on, run into, tail trodden on, bumped and occasionally just plain barged out the way. Years ago all of that kind of behaviour would have freaked me out and I would have gone running to hide but not these days. I just take it all in my stride. Just watch out if you’re walking down the hallway and Jenny’s playing fetch coz once she’s focussed on her nosey toy then everything else goes out of her head and if you get in the way then there’s going to be a kitty pileup! That’s ok though as I then get to punish her by having a good old rough and tumble with her before running off. Of course I only run off just fast enough for her to run after me and chase me (I mostly let her catch me too). I learnt early on that Jenny likes to be the one chasing not the one being chased. Being chased scares her as it reminds her of her time on the street and when any predators might try to harm her. It’s ok though as I’m happy to let her chase me, I don’t even have to slow down much how fast I run as she’s got everything mapped out, sofa, table, chair legs, wherever I go she’s just a couple of paws behind me ready to catch me.
If I’m lucky as she’s running about her whiskers will feel me ever so slightly before she runs into me and she’ll either swerve to avoid me or with a little spring she’ll jump over me instead, one bunny hop and kitty pileup averted. Sometimes she’s running so fast I’m not sure how she does it, she has such lightning fast reactions, I’m not sure that even with my eyes I’d be able to react as quickly as she does.
I’ve also learnt to make sure I keep my tail tucked in when I’m eating, eating is one of my most favourite things to do so this is the only time I don’t want to be disturbed. However the kitchen is also a play area (as is everywhere in the flat really) as much as I love food Jenny isn’t really food oriented so she’ll carry on playing so watch out everyone else, tuck in anything that’s sticking out, tail, paws, human feet as Jenny’s on the run again.
It took some getting used to having a blind little sister, a bit of time and patience and me thinking a lot of calm thoughts but it was worth the effort.
There’s something very special about my little sister Jenny, she does things that I wouldn’t do as a sighted cat such as going walkies and climbing trees. I’m far too scared to do all that but I’ll be here for her if she is ever in any need of anything, play, advice or just to chase someone and then cuddle with. She had such a rough start in life but she has become an amazing, beautiful, adventurous, brave and inspiring cat. I love her and I’m proud to call her my family and my sister.
Jenny’s Story 