Most of us are familiar with the concept of seeing-eye dogs and their wonderful work in guiding blind people. Canines are not the only animals that help the blind. There are several cases of felines becoming seeing-eye cats - for canine companions...
Cashew, a 14 year old Labrador Retriever owned by Terry Burns in Middleburg, Pennsylvania, is blind and deaf. Her best friend is a red tabby cat named Libby. Libby has become Cashew's seeing-eye cat. She guides Cashew around obstacles, leads her to the food dish and even sleeps next to her every night.
The only time they are separated is when Terry takes cashew for a walk.
Cashew's owners are amazed at the instinct and understanding that Libby displays towards her blind,deaf canine pal. Libby seems to know what Cashew needs and devotes herself to being the dog's guide-cat day in and day out.
Libby is not the only case of a seeing -eye cat.
Anne Jordan of Australia tells the story of her black and white kitten, Mancat.
Mancat was one of a litter of six newborn kittens tossed into the garbage by persons unknown at my husband's work place. Naturally, my husband bought them home and I bottle-fed them. Mancat's five pretty sisters all found wonderful new homes and were of course spayed.
Mancat was a very ordinary looking black and white kitten. No one wanted him so he stayed.
Mancat grew into a very large and very beautiful cat. He was raised with my dogs and formed a special attachment for Mary, my old black Pug. Due to an old injury, Mary was blind in one eye and the sight was failing in the other. She was fourteen when she went completely blind.
We only realized her sight was gone when we noticed Mancat's behavior. He started walking beside Mary wherever she went. If I moved a piece of furniture he carefully guided her around it. When she walked outside and down the steps to do what dogs have to do in the garden, he went with her. He stood beside her at meal times to make sure the other dogs didn't take an unfair advantage and raid her dinner bowl. He even guided her into bed at night.
As she grew older, we made little steps so Mary could still climb on our bed, the place where she always slept. Every night this wonderful cat helped the old dog negotiate the steps. Then he curled up beside her to sleep.
Mancat was Mary's eyes for the next two years, until she passed peacefully away at the age of sixteen. He mourned for her in the few months he survived after her death.
I was taking the dogs and cats for their evening walk in the back paddock when they startled a Tiger snake. A highly venomous and aggressive Australian snake, Mancat was the one bitten. He didn't make it to the vet. We buried him beside Mary, his friend.
