Have you noticed your cat squinting? You may think your cat just looks tired – but a closed eye could be due to an eye infection or other eye problems. Watery eyes, swollen eyelids or red eyes are all symptoms of the eyes not being in top shape. If you have ever had allergies yourself or had something in your eye that made you have to squint – you may know how sensitive and uncomfortable it can be when your eyes are not completely healthy. It is easy to confuse the different eye problems a cat can have. The symptoms can occur both in the eye itself or in other places nearby – such as in the tear ducts or on the eyelid. In this blog post, we will look at different eye problems in cats, how to treat them and why you should contact a vet if you have symptoms of eye infection in your cat.
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Eye inflammation, eye infection, eye catarrh or eye inflammation?
Viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites can end up in your cat's eye and cause discomfort. This can, for example, be an inflammation with or without an infection. When eye problems arise – it is common for the terms eye inflammation, eye infection, conjunctivitis and eye inflammation to be mixed up. This is not surprising as the common denominator of the various terms is cat eyes that have seen better days. However, there are differences between the names – which is important for us veterinarians to differentiate when treating your cat. When we know what the underlying cause of the eye problem is – we can provide the most effective treatment possible. We will go through the differences – but for the sake of simplicity we will use eye inflammation as a collective term for the various ailments.
Eye inflammation/eye inflammation
If your four-legged friend has been fighting with other neighboring cats – there may be damage to the eye tissue. Eye inflammation or eye inflammation – is a local reaction to this damage. If the wound has become infected – it is common for inflammation to occur in the eye. Eye inflammation in cats can also occur for reasons other than an injury to the eye. General infections in the small cat's body can manifest themselves in one or both eyes – such as feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline infectious proteinosis (FIP).
Eye catarrh/conjunctivitis
Cat conjunctivitis can manifest itself in the form of watery eyes, swelling, sneezing and a runny nose. Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the eye – more specifically, the thin mucous membrane on the inside of the eyelids and the whites around the cat's pupils. Conjunctivitis can also occur due to a virus or a bacterial infection.
Eye infection
When a cat has an eye infection – it is most often caused by a virus – such as the herpes virus. Herpes viruses can lie dormant in the cat's body and become apparent if the cat is experiencing stress or has a weakened immune system. Other causes of an eye infection in a cat are, for example, if the cat has dry eyes, eyelid margins that turn inward, irritation, other viral infections or if the cat has a wound. The cat's eye infection can manifest itself in different ways – such as fever, runny eyes and nose or sores on the cornea that are painful.
Symptoms of eye inflammation in cats
- Winking with the eye
- Watery eyes
- Yellow, green, grey-white or reddish discharge from the eyes
- Swelling around the eye or on the eyelid
- Sneezing and runny nose
- Rubs his eyes often
- Red or bloodshot eyes
- Heat
- Pain
- Squinting
- Itching
The symptoms of eye inflammation can occur in one or both eyes. It can also first appear in one eye – and then spread to the other.
Is it contagious if my cat has an eye infection?
Cat eye inflammation can be contagious to other cats – but is not contagious to humans.
Other eye problems in cats
There can be many reasons for watery eyes and other eye problems in cats. For example, this can be caused by common products we have at home – such as cleaning chemicals, dust or tobacco smoke.
Glaucoma
Symptoms of glaucoma may include bloodshot eyes, pain, grayish eyes, or your cat squinting one or both eyes. Glaucoma is often caused by a tumor inside the eye, a complication of an eye infection, or inflammation elsewhere in the body. Glaucoma can be difficult to cure – and if your cat is experiencing eye pain – the best option may be to remove the eye surgically.
Cataract
The causes of cataracts in cats vary – but it can occur, for example, if an eye infection goes untreated for a long time or if an infection spreads to the eye after an eye injury. With cataracts, the lens of the eye will gradually take on a whitish or blue color. This leads to reduced vision and blindness. Cataracts cannot be treated medically – but you can always try to treat the underlying disease to slow down the changes in the eye.
How is eye inflammation in cats treated?
How eye inflammation in cats is treated depends on the cause of the infection. If it is due to a bacterial infection – we can, for example, treat with antibiotics. This is useless if the cause of the infection is something else – such as a virus or abnormalities in the eye. In conjunction with treatment for the underlying cause – it is common to also treat the other unpleasant symptoms in the eye. In this case, for example, the eye can be rinsed with physiological saline, eye drops or ointment.
When is it time to contact a veterinarian?
As you can see, different eye conditions – such as an eye infection or mild eye irritation from a little debris – can have many symptoms in common. If your four-legged friend shows symptoms of eye discomfort – it is therefore a good idea to contact your veterinarian regardless. Sometimes watery eyes and swelling can go away on their own – but if the condition is due to a more serious eye disease – it may be foolish to wait and risk permanent eye damage in your cat.
