I'm blind

So lately our little blind kitten, Uno, has been darting for the outside door everytime he hears someone getting ready to leave or come in - which is often around here! This place is like Grand Central Station with people coming and going non-stop.  We've all learned to be very quick and watch our feet to make sure he's not sneaking past us. He literally has NO fear. 

I never have collars or tags on any of our cats for fear of them getting caught up in something when I'm not home - they ARE bengals, after all, and trouble gets in their path when least expected. All of our cats are microchipped so that they can be identified if turned in to a vet clinic or rescue facility. In Uno's case, however, I have decided to go that extra step and purchase a reflective collar and I.D. tag in the event he slips past us, unnoticed. 

---

Understandably, Uno is not loving the collar - and thinks of it more as a toy to be pulled off his neck and tossed around, than a piece of jewelry.  In any event, he will get used to it, and who knows, maybe one day it will be a lifesaver if he happens to get out and go missing. He is a VERY friendly guy and will run up to anyone who is speaking or making a noise - just to investigate.  The collar will just add some extra assurance that if the right person finds him, they will be able to easily return him to us or give us a call to come pick him up.

---

I thought it would be helpful to add a note on his tag saying "I'm blind" so that who ever finds him, understands his behaviour.  We are so used to how he responds to strange noises - he crouches low and stays close to the ground until he feels sure that the noise is coming from something or someone he recognizes.  Once he feels sure he's safe, he begins to bound toward whatever he hears or smells to investigate.  Once you reach out to touch him, however, he sort of jumps - because he isn't able to see you coming at him until you speak while you're getting close.  We've learned to speak to him nearly all the time when we are moving around him or wanting to pick him up, etc.  It's the only way he can tell that we are coming closer, or leaving the area. If we leave a room where we've been with him, without speaking as we leave, or making noise with our feet hitting the ground, he will begin to cry, looking for us when he realizes we left without telling him!

Uno is such a smart boy, and he's enriching our lives in ways we never could have imagined. We are such a fortunate family to have him!

---