Sanctuary Saves Blind Cats From Euthanasia And Gives Them New Home
Blind cats are often the first to be overlooked, but one sanctuary in North Carolina built its mission around giving them a real chance. At Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary, cats that might have been euthanized elsewhere are given time, care, and a place to live safely.
Alana Miller and her daughter started seeing these cats differently after meeting one blind kitty at a local shelter. What began as a volunteer experience turned into a rescue effort for blind cats and other special needs animals that needed somewhere to go.
Here is how that small act of compassion grew into a forever home for cats many people would have passed by.
They Found That Blind Cats Are Just Like Any Normal Cat
While Alana Miller and her daughter were volunteering at a local shelter, they met a cat named Louie. They were amazed to see that the feline could climb, run, and play like any other "normal" cat.
Soon, they found themselves taking in one blind kitty after another.
That one meeting changed everything.
Miller Started the Foundation
Before long, their passion transformed into an organization. In 2005, Miller officially launched the 501(c)(3) non-profit rescue and sanctuary.
All the cats they have rescued were either saved from shelters where they faced euthanasia or taken in from owners who lacked the means to care for them.
Blind Cats See the World in a Different Way
Blind cats have adapted to their blindness in unique ways. Most of them compensate for the loss of sight by curling their whiskers forward, which helps them sense upcoming objects, similar to how humans use canes.
Their hearing also adjusts and sharpens, allowing them to rely on auditory cues to navigate their environment.
They Just Know They're Cats
Miller recalls watching one of her blind cats, Magoo, leap four feet into the air to catch a moth. Apparently, the cat could hear its tiny wings moving and simply made a leap for it.
They don't know they're blind. They just know they're cats.
That simple line says a lot about how they live.
It’s the same kind of bond as the visually impaired Staffie who found a guide and lifelong companion.
What Causes Cat Blindness?
Many factors can cause a cat to go blind. It can be hereditary, glaucoma, progressive retinal atrophy-which affects older cats-or cataracts.
Some kittens can also lose their sight due to untreated viral infections.
Because of their "special needs" status, their likelihood of finding homes decreases, which is why they often end up on the euthanasia list.
A Second Home
In 2011, Miller and her team added a second building to accommodate another group of endangered special needs cats. These cats include those with Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and/or Feline Leukemia Virus (FelV).
Both diseases can transfer to other cats, so shelters often place these cats at the top of euthanasia lists rather than risk infecting others. At Blind Cat Rescue, they offer them refuge and care for as long as they remain healthy.
What they want for these felines is to provide them with a high quality of life.
It became more than a rescue, it became a second chance.
They Have Found a Forever Home
Despite their differences, these cats have now found a wonderful forever home where they are cherished for who they are at Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary.
Hopefully, more people will be willing to give animals with conditions like these cats a second chance. Despite their illnesses, these cats have found ways to enjoy their lives, and all they need is a chance from the people around them.
Read on.
After reading Louie’s story, see how Chris Arsenault died trying to save rescued cats. Cat Sanctuary Founder Dies in Blaze After Bravely Trying to Save Beloved Rescued Cats
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