The Causes of Cat Conjunctivitis: Know to Prevent

Cat conjunctivitis is a concerning condition that affects the delicate tissues around a cat's eyes. Understanding the causes of this ailment is not only crucial for effective treatment when it occurs but also for taking preventive measures. Conjunctivitis can significantly impact a cat's quality of life, causing discomfort, redness, and discharge in the eyes. There are multiple factors that can lead to this condition. Infectious agents, such as viruses and bacteria, are common culprits. Viruses like Feline Herpesvirus - 1 can be highly contagious among cats, while bacteria like Chlamydia felis can also infect the conjunctiva.

Symptoms of Conjunctivitis in Cats 

1. Red, swollen and congested conjunctiva: Inflammation of the conjunctiva in cats can cause the eyes to look red and swollen.
2. Tear overflow: conjunctivitis is usually accompanied by incessant tearing.
3. Reluctance to open eyes: the cat may blink or squint frequently due to eye discomfort.
4. Increased eye discharge: Clear or yellowish-green discharge may come out of the eyes.
5. Photophobia: conjunctivitis may cause the cat to be sensitive to light.
6. Eyelid adhesions: Severe discharge may cause the eyelids to stick together at night.
7. Scratching at the eyes: cats may scratch at the eyes with their paws because of eye discomfort.

What Causes Conjunctivitis in Cats?

The causes of feline conjunctivitis can be categorized into two main groups: infectious and non-infectious.

1.Infectious causes

• Viral infections

Viral infections such as feline herpesvirus (FHV-1) and feline cup virus are common causes of conjunctivitis. These viral infections usually irritate the conjunctiva and make it susceptible to secondary bacterial infections.

Also Read: Cat Herpes: FVR and FHV-1 Symptoms and Treatments

• Bacterial infections

Common bacteria include Chlamydia, Mycoplasma, Streptococcus, and Staphylococcus. These bacteria can directly infect the conjunctiva and cause inflammation.

• Other infections

Feline infectious rhinotracheitis virus (FVR) and others can also cause conjunctivitis.

2.Non-infectious causes

• Foreign body irritation

Accidental injury to the conjunctiva caused by foreign objects such as sand, dust, etc. entering the eyelid.

• External Injury

External injuries to the eye, such as bumps or scratches, can also cause inflammation of the conjunctiva.

• Inverted eyelashes

The cat's eyelashes are inverted and the eyes are rubbed for a long time, causing inflammation.

• Blocked tear ducts

Blocked tear ducts may also cause conjunctivitis.

3.Other factors

• Environmental irritation

Environmental irritants such as cigarette smoke, household chemicals and detergents, dust, and pollen.

• Allergies

Although allergy-related conjunctivitis is uncommon in cats, it is one of the possible causes.

• Eye trauma

Cats' eyes are very sensitive, so if you accidentally tear or hit your cat's eye, then it can easily lead to conjunctivitis.

• Eye Parasites

Sometimes, cats can have parasites in their eyes, such as Plasmodium and Coccidia. These parasites can parasitize the inside of the eye, leading to the appearance of conjunctivitis in cats.

• Air Pollutants

Air pollutants not only affect human health, but can also cause damage to your cat's eyes. For example, carbon dioxide and particulate matter from vehicle emissions can irritate your cat's eyes and cause conjunctivitis.

• Unusual medication

Conjunctivitis in cats can be easily triggered if unusual eye drops or ointments are used on the cat.

These causes may lead to symptoms of conjunctivitis in cats, such as red, watery eyes and increased eye discharge. Understanding these causes will help in taking appropriate preventive and therapeutic measures.

How to Treat Conjunctivitis in Cats?

The main treatments for conjunctivitis in cats include the following.

1. Use eye drops

It is very effective in the treatment of ocular inflammation caused by gram-negative bacilli and is a pet-specific eye drop. Separate the upper and lower eyelids of the cat's eyes and put the eye drop into the eyelid, 3 - 5 drops twice a day, the course of bacterial conjunctivitis is usually 3 - 5 days.

Eye Drops for Dog Allergies and Cats Conjunctivitis

For the treatment of conjunctivitis in cats and dogs, neomycin eye drops for dogs and cats can reduce the harmful effects of conjunctivitis, and early use of the medicine can control the development of the disease and reduce eye congestion and photophobia, and other uncomfortable manifestations.

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2. Oral or injectable drugs

• Antibiotics

Like Doxycycline, for respiratory infections (when conjunctivitis is accompanied by respiratory symptoms), 10mg per kilogram twice a day.

• Antiviral drugs

Such as interferon, a broad-spectrum antiviral agent that inhibits viral replication by causing cells to produce antiviral proteins mainly through the action of cell surface receptors, for viral conjunctivitis.

• Eye cleaning

The affected eye can be cleaned with saline, 3% boric acid water, or 0.1% Rivanol solution, and the process of washing the eye carefully examines the conjunctival sac and the back of the transient membrane for foreign bodies. If it is bacterial conjunctivitis, chloramphenicol eye drops can be used 3 times a day for a week after washing.

3. Wear an Elizabethan Collar

Prevent cats from scratching their eyes with their claws and aggravating the eye symptoms.

4.Other

If the conjunctivitis is caused by a foreign body, the foreign body needs to be removed before treatment.
If it is due to inverted eyelashes, etc., the hair around the eyes can be trimmed to reduce the irritation.

During treatment, the following points need to be noted:

• Pay attention to a light diet and feed more water during treatment.
• Conjunctivitis in cats may be contagious, and when there are multiple cats in the home, the sick cat needs to be isolated.
• Even if the symptoms improve, do not stop the medication until full recovery is achieved, otherwise the disease is likely to recur and the recurrence will be more severe and more difficult to treat.

How to Prevent Eye Infections in Cats?

• Keep the environment clean

Regularly clean your cat's living environment, including the litter box,, food bowl, etc. to reduce the breeding of bacteria and viruses.

• Regular eye examination

Check your cat's eyes weekly and observe whether there are abnormalities such as redness, swelling, tearing, increased eye droppings, etc., so that you can detect the problem early and consult your veterinarian.

• Avoid contact with sources of infection

Avoid the cat's contact with substances that may cause infection, such as dust, pollen and chemicals.

• Prevent trauma

Avoid trauma to the cat's eyes, such as scratching and bumping.

• Balanced nutrition

Provide nutritionally balanced food, especially food rich in vitamin A and antioxidants, to help maintain eye health.

• Vaccination

Get vaccinated on time to prevent viral infections such as feline nasal branch.

• Avoiding Stress

Reduce stressors for your cat, provide a quiet, comfortable environment and avoid overfeeding or exercise.

When to See a Veterinarian

Signs of Severe Infection
Thick discharge, inability to open the eyes, or signs of pain require immediate veterinary attention.

No Improvement With Initial Treatment
If symptoms persist beyond a few days of treatment, consult your vet for further evaluation.