A cat’s eye is watering: what to do and how to treat it

How to examine a cat if its eyes are watery?

As tragic as it may be, often the appearance of tears in a cat’s eyes indicates the presence of some kind of disease.
Therefore, you need to pay attention to whether tears appeared for a short time and then disappeared, or whether the discharge in your cat’s eyes is present throughout the entire day, or worse, several days.

Tears

If the cat’s tears are insignificant, and, having appeared in the morning, soon went away, there is nothing to worry about, and there is no reason for alarm.
If your eyes “cry” for a long time, you should look for the cause of this phenomenon.
When examining a cat with watery eyes, start by cleaning your hands to avoid further infection. Then try pulling down the upper eyelids on each eye .
If the eyes are not cloudy, they shine, and the pupils are the same size, and the back surface of both eyelids is pale pink, and the cornea is transparent - everything is normal with the animal’s eyes.

Examine the animal

If the eyelids are red or swollen, or the cornea is cloudy, this means that the cat has problems with the eyes.
If the animal has difficulty opening its eyes or the inner surface of the eyelid is pulled up by a thin light film, it is better to visit a veterinarian as soon as possible.

When to contact a veterinarian

First of all, the owner should pay attention to the level of severity of the phenomenon. If the cat’s eyes do not run too much and the animal’s general condition is normal, then you should first treat the visual organs yourself. If you don’t have special products at hand, you can use chamomile decoction, 0.02% furatsilin solution or boric acid solution (2 teaspoons per 0.5 cups of water) 2-3 times a day.

The cat has a swollen paw and is limping: what to do?

After washing, you need to wait a few days until the tearing stops. If tears have been flowing for a long time, they are accompanied by purulent discharge, and the cat’s health has noticeably deteriorated, you need to immediately take your pet to the doctor or call him at home (some veterinary clinics offer such a service).

Important! If the eye injury is noticeable, then under no circumstances should you hesitate.

There are times when an allergy occurs to a new house plant or household chemical. At the same time, the cat’s eyes water, he begins to sneeze, and mucus comes out of his nose. If a cat's eye bleeds due to allergies, what should you do? Pay attention to which new strong-smelling thing the cat is often located next to. It should be removed and not used again. If you have allergies, it is better to rinse your eyes with clean water or chamomile infusion.

In any case, an urgent visit to the doctor should not be postponed; the appearance of pus, increased body temperature, refusal to eat, diarrhea, and vomiting are noticeable.

Cat's eyes are watery: causes and treatment

Reasons why a cat's eyes water:

with a foreign body in the eyes . It could be some kind of speck, fluff, twig, midge, and possibly dirt. If you find something like this, the first thing you should do is rinse the animal’s eyes under running water. Once the foreign object has been washed, apply 1% tetracycline ointment to the cat's upper eyelid . It would be a good idea to show the animal to a veterinarian.
Weakening of the immune system . This is possible if the kitten is taken away from its mother too early. But only a veterinarian can find out whether this is so. He will also develop a regimen for taking the necessary medications and adjust the animal’s diet.
The presence of allergies , which, just like people, are inherent in cats. Allergens can be the same as for humans: dust, chemicals, pollen, etc. Here, consultation with a specialist is also necessary, since it is unlikely that the owner himself will be able to accurately determine both the allergy itself and the cause of its occurrence.
Worms . This is a very common cause of watery eyes in cats. To exclude such a cause, the animal should be regularly treated for worms.
Breed cats. There are several breeds that have a characteristic skull structure with a flattened nose and deformed nasolacrimal ducts. Only daily eye rinsing and special attention to hygiene in these risky areas will help.

Prone to watery eyes
Colds . If the cat also sneezes and coughs, sleeps most of the time and absorbs a lot of water, there is reason to suspect a cold . You should not treat the animal yourself; it is better to contact a veterinarian.
Feline distemper is accompanied, in addition to discharge from the eyes, often with pus, high fever, diarrhea and vomiting, and general weakness. Self-treatment is unacceptable.

Eye diseases that cause your cat's eyes to water

Possible infection. If the eye becomes red and swollen, and pus appears, the help of a veterinarian is necessary, since feline conjunctivitis is possible.
Direct eye disease , in particular cataracts or glaucoma . A whitened lens in the first case or a clouded cornea in the second are obvious symptoms of such diseases. Of course, treatment is only possible in a clinical setting.
Diseases caused by viruses or fungi (such as chlamydia or toxoplasmosis) can only be treated by a specialist.
An inflamed cornea is identified by red, watery eyes, on which a cloudy film appears.
Entropion of the eyelid is often characteristic of Persians or, for example, sphinxes. Purulent discharge and swollen eyes are a reason to immediately visit a doctor.
injury received if a cat got into a fight with a fellow cat, hit itself, got caught on a branch, etc. Wounds or other damage to the eyeball are symptoms of such an injury. It would be a good idea to consult a doctor to determine the severity of the injury.

From injury

You should also pay attention to the color of the discharge from the eyes.

If the discharge is clear, similar to ordinary tears, it is most likely due to an allergy , mechanical irritation, or breed characteristics.
If the discharge is green or yellow, mixed with pus , this indicates the presence of an infectious disease.
If your cat's eyes are watery brown or red, it could be worms.

Preventive actions

To prevent your pet from experiencing increased tearfulness in one eye or two at once, the owner can worry about this by carrying out simple preventive measures. From an early age, little kittens need help and daily care for their eyes. You can wash them simply with boiled water or tea, or use the special “Diamond Eyes” preparation. This remedy should be instilled twice a day, 2 drops in each eye. In order for the eyes to be as open as possible, the kitten must be held by the scruff of the neck with its head raised up. After instillation, be sure to lightly wipe the eyes with a clean cotton pad so that the kitten does not scratch them.

It is useful for a healthy kitten or adult cat to wipe their eyes once a day with a clean cloth soaked in water. This will relieve them from souring and dry crusts that may appear after sleep. Wiping should be done carefully, without pressing, from the outer corner to the inner. Decoctions of medicinal herbs, such as chamomile, calendula, sage or St. John's wort, are also good for this procedure.

Daily care for your pet's eyes should be carried out before each use of medications prescribed by a doctor. If washing and prescribed treatment for several days does not give a visible positive effect, you must contact the veterinary clinic again.

The doctor will tell you how to treat the animal, the dosage and duration of medication use in each individual case. The owner can only provide first aid to his pet to alleviate his suffering. You must be attentive to the health of your pet.

Why do Scottish Fold cats have watery eyes?

As mentioned above, some cat breeds have a non-standard nasolacrimal duct, including Scottish, British, and Persian.
Because of this, it does not completely remove the discharge, which is usually normal for any breed.
The excess is eliminated through the eyes. If this happens after the cat has slept, then there is no need to worry, this is a normal physiological phenomenon.

Due to non-standard channel

If your cat’s eyes are constantly watering , this is already outside the norm, and here it is necessary to find out the cause with the help of a veterinarian.
Such cats need to wash at least once a week, and sometimes up to 2-3 times a day. If the discharge is normal, it is enough to wipe it periodically.
If your eyes water frequently , you should contact a veterinarian and have your animal examined.

Natural causes of watery eyes

Let's figure out when a kitten's eyes are watery, and lacrimation is not a cause for concern.

There are breeds for which constant lacrimation is a normal process inherent at the genetic level. This feature is characteristic of hairless purrs and breeds with a flat muzzle.

The secretion of tears occurs immediately after the animal awakens. This is normal for any cat, purebred or not, and is explained by physiology.

A cat's eye waters when there is something on the surface of the mucous membrane, for example, a speck or fur. One way or another, it is necessary to monitor the cleanliness of your pet’s eyes. To do this, they are washed with special means. They can be purchased at pet stores and pet pharmacies. Experts will tell you which product is best for your pet.

How to prevent your cat's eyes from watering?

Of course, it would be much more correct to use hygienic methods so that the cat does not have to be treated later.
Periodically rinse the animal's eyes with a cotton swab and warm water towards the spout.

Rinse

If you notice dried discharge from the eye, soften it and carefully remove it, then use a clean swab to rinse the eye.
Do not use the same tampon for both eyes, use new ones.
If your cat's eyes are watery , do not use drops or medications without consulting a veterinarian, otherwise you may make the animal sick by using the medication incorrectly.

What can you do at home?

Get rid of drafts at home and make sure your cat doesn't get too cold. Check her diet. If necessary, consult a veterinarian and add a vitamin complex to its usual food so that the animal receives all the necessary nutrients. This will strengthen your immune system and improve your overall condition. Do not forget about regular prevention of parasites.

Do not wash your cat's eyes with a solution of potassium permanganate. Yes, it is known for its disinfecting properties, but at the same time it dries out the mucous membrane and can even burn it. In addition, if manganese crystals are poorly soluble in water and get into the eye, they can cause irreparable damage to vision.

A cat's eyes are watery: prevention

If there are no problems, then for prevention you can use warm decoctions of medicinal plants intended for people (St. John’s wort, chamomile, calendula, etc.), green tea, and drops without antibiotics.
If the veterinarian determines that the cat’s eyes are watery due to an infectious disease, use tetracycline ointment.
For established bacterial infections, “Diamond Eyes” and their analogues are used.

Symptoms of lacrimation

Depending on the type and severity of the disease, they look different:

slightly swollen eyes with slight discharge;
lacrimation for too long;
the liquid tear secretion changes to a thicker one;
a dried brown mass gradually forms on the inner corners of the eyes;
itching occurs due to illness and fluid leakage due to rubbing the eyes;
severe swelling and redness of the conjunctiva;
in conditions where the temperature rises, a depressed state and photophobia occur.