How to Treat Cat Eye Infection

Last Updated: July 15, 2021 Approved

Eye health is important to the overall health of cats and should be assessed by cat owners on a regular basis. Knowing what to look for and how to act if you suspect an infection is important to preventing long-term problems with your cat's eyes. Early detection allows you to decide if you can manage the problem at home or if a trip to the vet is essential. If in doubt, always seek professional advice because some problems can be dangerous and could potentially cause a loss of vision or an eye.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Checking a Cat's Eyes for Infection

1
Look for the symptoms of an eye infection. Be alert for signs that your cat has a problem with its eyes. Symptoms can include one or a combination of the following:^{[1]
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Research source
BSAVA Manual of Small Animal Ophthalmology. Petersen-Jones & Crispin. BSAVA publications.}
- Winking or holding the eye closed: This is not normal and is a sign the cat has pain in that eye or is uncomfortable. This could be the result of trauma (a scratch to the eye) infection, increased pressure within the eye, a foreign body trapped under the eyelids, or inflammation within the eye.^{[2]
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  Research source
  BSAVA Manual of Small Animal Ophthalmology. Petersen-Jones & Crispin. BSAVA publications.}
- Swollen eyelids: This speaks for itself but swollen, puffy eyelids are a sure sign something's not right - usually trauma, infection, or allergy.
- Discharge from the eye: All cats develop gloop in the inner corner of the eye, especially when they wake and haven't yet washed themselves. Normal gloop is usually clear or rust-colored. Indeed, as the clear gloop sits in contact with the air it dries out and becomes rusty looking - this is normal. A yellow or green discharge is a sign of infection.
- Inflamed whites of the eye: If the white portion of the eye is rosy pink, or there are blood vessels snaking across it, this is abnormal and can be a sign of allergy, infection, or glaucoma (increased pressure within the eye.)
- Loss of a shiny surface: The healthy eye has a highly reflective surface, and when you look carefully any reflections are have smooth edges and are unbroken. If you look at the surface and it appears dull so it is difficult to see reflections, or the reflections are broken up and jagged, this is abnormal. This can be an indication of dry eye (not enough tear fluid is present) or an ulcer on the surface of the eye.^{[3]
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  Research source
  BSAVA Manual of Small Animal Ophthalmology. Petersen-Jones & Crispin. BSAVA publications.}
2
Check your cat's eyes in bright light. Having noticed there is a possible problem, check the cat in good lighting. Decide which eye is the abnormal one by comparing one eye with the other, and make a note of which one it is. Study the sore eye carefully and make a mental list of what you see, such as the color of discharge, any inflammation on the whites of the eye, soreness, and so forth.^{[4]
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3
Assess whether you should take your cat to the veterinarian. Some infections need to be treated by your vet, instead of at home. If you see the following signs then the cat should be checked by a veterinarian:^{[5]
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Research source
BSAVA Manual of Small Animal Ophthalmology. Petersen-Jones & Crispin. BSAVA publications.}
- Visible discomfort (closing the eye)
- Yellow or green discharge
- Dull surface to the eye
- Enlarged blood vessels on the surface of the eye.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Caring For an Eye Infection at Home

1
Clean eye discharge. If your cat has runny eyes or a discharge, use dampened cotton wool to wipe away the gunk. Do this as often as is needed, which for some cats with a heavy infection could mean hourly.
- Pat the eye dry afterwards.
- As the cotton wool become soiled, switch to a fresh piece. Use separate pieces for each eye.
2
Take extra care with kitten's eyes. It is not uncommon for kittens with an eye infection to have their eyelids stuck shut by discharge. It is important to clean their eyes because the infection could build up behind the eyelids and then cause blindness.^{[6]
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- If the eyelids are gummed shut, soak a clean ball of cotton wool in some previously boiled (and cooled) water. Repeatedly wipe the damp cotton ball over the eye, wiping from the inside corner to the outside. At the same time use the finger and thumb of the opposite hand to apply gentle pressure to the upper and lower lids in order to pry them open.^{[7]
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3
Keep the cat's eyes clear of irritants. Trim long hair away from the eyes and keep its face clean. It is also a good idea to avoid using aerosols near a cat, as its eyes are very sensitive and may weep as a result.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Treating an Eye Infection Medically

1
Keep up to date with your cat's vaccination. It may be surprising but vaccinations can prevent some eye infections. Cat flu and chlamydia are two common causes of eye infections that vaccination can prevent.^{[8]
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2
Take your cat to the veterinarian so the infection can be assessed and treated. Eye infections are commonly caused either by bacteria or viruses. Viral infections are self-limiting and the cat's own immune system will fight the infection. Bacterial infections are treated with topical eye ointments or drops that contain antibiotic.
- Viruses which affect the eye include herpesvirus and calicivirus. Some veterinarians will supply topical antibiotics even if a viral infection is suspected, this is because these infections could be mixed with complicating bacteria that cause secondary infections.^{[9]
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  Research source
  BSAVA Manual of Small Animal Ophthalmology. Petersen-Jones & Crispin. BSAVA publications.}
- The bacteria that may colonize the eye and cause infection include Staphylococci, E.coli, Proteus, and Pseudomonas. It is very important to always wash your hands thoroughly after handling a cat with sticky eyes, as these infections can spread.
3
Apply medicine as directed. Depending on the formulation antibiotic treatments are applied anywhere from twice a day to hourly. Oral antibiotics are not usually given for eye infections unless it is not possible to use an ointment because of the cat's temperament.
- Treatment is usually given for a minimum of 5 days, and should not be discontinued before this because of the risk of inducing antibiotic resistance.^{[10]
  X
  Research source
  BSAVA Manual of Small Animal Ophthalmology. Petersen-Jones & Crispin. BSAVA publications.}

Expert Q&A
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Question

How do you treat an eye infection?

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

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Keep the eye clean by bathing it with cotton wool (a cotton ball) soaked in cooled, boiled water. If the cause is bacterial, then the vet can supply appropriate antibiotic drops.
Question

How do you treat conjunctivitis in cats?

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

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Conjunctivitis can be caused by bacterial or viral infections. While a bacterial infection will respond to antibiotic drops, a viral infection won't.
Question

How can I clean my cat's eyes?

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Cooled boiled water is just fine for cleaning a cat's eyes. Just be sure to use a clean piece of cotton wool (cotton ball) for each eye.