A healthy cat’s eyes should be clear and bright and the area around the eyeball should be white.
Common Symptoms of Illness
- Redness of the conjunctiva (inside membrane of eyelids).
- Discharge ‘stuck’ on the surface or in the corners of the eye.
- Cloudiness within the eyeball.
- A dull eye surface.
- The third eyelid extending across the eye.
- Excessive tearing or unusual discharges.
- Tear-stained fur around the eyes.
Common Eye Conditions & Symptoms
Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the membrane that covers both the inner lining of the eyelid and the white of the eye. It may be caused by allergies or by bacterial, fungal or viral infections. In fact, recurrent or chronic conjunctivitis in cats is often the result of herpes viral infections which can return – again and again. It can be contagious, so keep an infected cat away from others.
Corneal Ulceration can occur when the shiny surface of the cornea is scratched or damaged. Again erosion and ulceration can be associated with a herpesvirus infection of the cornea
Epiphora
If your cat’s eyes constantly “weep”, or if the fur around them appears “stained”, the normal tear flow may be blocked.
How to administer eye drops
- Remove any discharge from around the eye with a cotton ball moistened with warm water.
- Hold your cat sideways on your lap or place him/her on a table at a comfortable height (you may want someone to help restrain your cat if you choose the second option).
- See the instructions on the bottle for dosage. Shake if necessary.
- Use one hand to hold the bottle between thumb and index finger while using the other to support the cat’s head.
- Tilt the head back and, to prevent blinking, use your free fingers to hold the eyelids open.
- Hold the bottle of drops close to the eye but DON’T touch the eye’s surface.
- Squeeze the drops onto the eye and once the drops are in, release the eyelids.
- Your cat will blink, spreading the medication over the eye’s surface.
How to administer eye ointment
- Remove any discharge from around the eye with a cotton ball moistened with warm water.
- Hold your cat sideways on your lap or place him/her on a table at a comfortable height (you may want someone to help restrain your cat if you choose the second option).
- Check the instructions on the tube for dosage.
- Gently pull back upper and lower eyelids.
- Hold the tube parallel to the lower eyelid, squeeze out the ointment onto the edge of the eyelid.
- Massage upper and lower eyelids together to spread the medication.
- Release the eyelids and let your cat blink.