feeding a blind cat

I am struggling with Shadow lately. He is ten now and completely blind, and he has started knocking his food bowl over when he eats. I have tried moving it to a different spot, but he just bumps into the edge and sends it sliding across the kitchen tile. It is so frustrating for me to clean up kibble at 3am. Does anyone have a trick for keeping the bowl in place for a cat who cannot see where it is?

Oh, that sounds stressful. I have a similar issue with Luna, she is very picky and throws the bowl when she is not satisfied with the texture. I started using a non-slip mat under the bowl. It is one of those yoga mats cut to size. It keeps the bowl from sliding around. You can read more about my setup in Luna keeps knocking the bowl over. I hope that helps you a little.

Blindness changes the spatial mapping. You might try a raised stand to keep the bowl off the floor level where he is bumping things. I use one for Daisy, my terrier, who is anxious and knocks it over. Raised stands vs. floor bowls has some pics. Also, ensure the area around the bowl is clear of other obstacles so he does not have to navigate around furniture to get to it.

Lulu is a dsh and has hairball issues, so I am very careful about where she eats. I use a specific scent cue. I put a drop of the same essential oil on the mat under her bowl every day. She associates that smell with food. It seems to help her orient herself even when she is tired. You can see the details in Using scent to guide Lulu to her food.

Consistency is vital. Whiskers is eleven and deaf, not blind, but the principle is similar. He relies on routine. I never move his bowl, not even one inch. If you move it, he gets confused. I keep his food in the exact same spot every day. Whiskers' feeding routine explains my layout. Maybe try keeping Shadow's bowl in the same place for a week to see if he memorizes the distance.