Can Cats Cry Tears?

Cats are known for their expressive eyes, which can convey a range of emotions from curiosity to contentment. But can cats actually cry tears like humans do? If you've ever seen your cat's eyes watering, you might wonder whether they're shedding tears due to sadness or pain. This guide explores whether cats can cry tears, the reasons behind watery eyes in cats, and what it means for their health.

Why Did Cats Cry?

Cats don't always shed tears for emotional reasons, such as sadness or fear. According to the information searched, cats shed tears for a variety of reasons, including the following factors.

• Eye Disease

Cats may shed tears due to eye infections, conjunctivitis, keratitis, and other diseases. 

• Allergic reactions

Cats may experience eye discomfort and tearing when they are allergic to certain substances. 

Also Read:  What Are Cats Allergic to

• Inverted eyelashes or eyelid entropion

Eyelashes or hair around the eye grow toward the inside of the eye, irritating the eye and causing tearing. 

• Foreign objects entering the eyes

Dust, cat hair and other foreign objects entering the eyes can cause tearing. 

• Upper Respiratory Tract Infection

Colds or upper respiratory tract infections may cause blockage of the nasolacrimal duct, preventing tears from draining properly. 

• Born with facial structure

Certain cats such as Garfield are born with narrow nasolacrimal ducts, which are prone to blockage of secretions. 

• Pain Response

Cats may also tear up when they are injured or feel pain.

• Stress reaction

Stressors such as changes in the environment or the addition of a new pet may cause cats to feel anxious.

• Food Irritation

Consumption of certain irritating foods may cause cats to drool. 

How to Know if Cat Has an Eye Disease Causing Tears?

Observe your cat's eye symptoms

When you suspect that your cat's tearing problem may be caused by an eye disease, you can make an initial judgment by carefully observing your cat's eye symptoms. Here are some signs that may indicate that your cat is suffering from an eye disease.

Conjunctivitis: the cat may have red conjunctiva accompanied by tearing or even purulent discharge, squinting and scratching of the eyes. 
Keratitis: the cat may squint, tear, scratch, and have a change in the transparency of the cornea, making it look foggy. 
Corneal ulcers: cats may have indentations in the cornea, squinting, tearing, photophobia, and scratching of the eyes, and in severe cases, there may be yellow-green discharge and corneal perforation. 
Tear Spillage: Cats may have wet and runny eyes with dark hair coloring at the corners of the eyes, which may be due to overproduction of tears or blockage of the nasolacrimal duct. 
Glaucoma: the cat may have eyelid spasms, tear overflow, pain or even yelping, lethargy and anorexia. 
Cataracts: the cat's pupils may no longer be a deep black color, but appear white.

How to Tell if Cat's Tears are Due to Emotional Issues or Physical Causes?

Ways to differentiate the cause of tears in cats

Tears in cats can be due to emotional problems or physical reasons. Generally speaking, cats shedding tears is not directly linked to emotions as it is in humans. Emotional tearing in humans is an evolutionarily unique phenomenon, and current scientific research has shown that animals other than humans rarely tear due to emotional fluctuations. 

Tears caused by physiological reasons

Tears in cats are usually due to physiological reactions, such as overproduction of the lacrimal gland, blockage of the tear ducts, eye infections, foreign body irritation or hereditary narrowing of the tear ducts. For example, cats of short-nosed breeds have shorter tear ducts due to their anatomical structure, which can easily lead to overflow of tears. In addition, irritating substances in the food or environment may also cause cats to shed tears. 

Tears caused by emotional problems

Although cats are unlikely to shed tears due to sadness or other emotional issues, they may exhibit tear-like behavior when they feel stressed or uncomfortable. For example, cats may react with tears when experiencing a change in environment, a medical procedure, or feeling upset. 

How to know

To determine the cause of a cat's tearing, observe the other behaviors and signs that accompany it. If a cat's tearing is accompanied by sneezing, red eyes, increased discharge, or a change in behavior (e.g., hiding, refusing to eat), this may indicate a physiological problem, such as infection or inflammation. If the cat sheds tears in specific situations, such as after being neutered or reunited after a long separation, this may be related to an emotional reaction, but this is more rare. 

If your cat begins to tear frequently, it is advisable to consult your veterinarian for an examination to determine if there is a physical problem that requires treatment. In the meantime, ensuring that your cat's living environment is comfortable and that factors that may cause stress are reduced will help to minimize unnecessary tearing.

How Do Cats Express Their Emotions?

In addition to tears, cats express their emotions through a variety of nonverbal behaviors. Here are some common ways to express emotions.

• Tail Posture

The height and movement of the tail can convey different emotions. For example, a raised tail usually indicates happiness or curiosity, while a rapidly wagging tail may indicate anger or upset.

• Ear Position

Ears tilted forward usually indicate alertness and curiosity, while ears pressed back against the head may indicate fear or aggression.

• Eye size and shape

A cat's eyes are half-closed when relaxed, indicating trust, while the pupils are dilated and the eyes are more rounded when nervous or fearful.

• Body Language

A cat's body posture can also reflect emotions. For example, a relaxed body lying on its side may indicate comfort, while an arched back or tense body may indicate defensiveness or nervousness.

• Purring

While a cat's meows are not as varied as a dog's bark, they do express emotions through different purrs, such as a soft purr when begging for food or a low growl when threatening.

Also Read:  What Does It Mean When A Cat Purrs

• Behavioral Actions

Cats may engage in specific behaviors to attract attention or express emotions, such as rubbing, rolling, licking, or displaying toys.

• Condition of the fur

Cats may raise their hair when they feel uneasy or threatened, and this “blowing up” behavior is meant to look bigger to deter opponents.

What to Do When Cat Is Tearful Due to an Allergic Reaction?

When your cat is tearing up due to an allergic reaction, you should take the following steps to help your pet.

Identify the allergen

First, try to identify substances that may cause allergies, which may include food, pollen, dust mites, certain plants, or cleaning products in your home. Knowing the allergens will help you avoid contact between your cat and them and reduce the incidence of allergic reactions. 

Use of anti-allergy medication

If your cat's allergic reaction is more severe, antihistamines can be used under the direction of your veterinarian to reduce inflammation and allergy symptoms. Be sure to use the medication as directed by your veterinarian and monitor your cat's reaction. 

Keep the environment clean

Regularly clean your home of dust and allergens, use an air purifier, and make sure your cat's sleeping area is clean and comfortable. This helps reduce the number of allergens and lowers the risk of allergic reactions in cats. 

Avoid self-medication

Don't give your cat random human anti-allergy medications as these may not be suitable for cats and may even be harmful. Always treat under the advice of your veterinarian. 

Regular medical checkups

Take your cat to the veterinarian for regular medical check-ups so that allergic reactions or other health problems can be detected and treated in time. 

Provide proper care

If your cat's eyes are red, swollen or watery, gently wipe the area around the eyes and use an eye cleaning product recommended by your veterinarian. Avoid allowing your cat to scratch the eye during treatment to avoid further injury or infection. 

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When Do Cats Reflexively Tear?

Reflexive tearing in cats usually refers to a non-emotional, automatic physiologic response that is triggered by an external stimulus or internal pathology. Here are some conditions that may cause reflexive tearing in cats:

• Eye irritation

When a cat's eyes are irritated by dust, foreign objects, or other tiny particles, the eyes develop an inflammatory response that stimulates the lacrimal glands to produce more tears to flush out the irritant. The tears in this case are to protect the eyes from further damage. 

• Ear Canal Infections

Ear canal infections in cats can lead to irritation of the nerves around the ear canal, and this irritation can be transmitted to the tear glands, causing tearing. Ear canal infections may be accompanied by itching, swelling or pain, and these symptoms may prompt your cat to frequently scratch his ears with his hind feet, which can irritate the tear ducts. 

You may interested in: 5 Common Ear Canal Infections

• Eye trauma

If a cat's eye is hit or bruised, the cornea of the eye has a much larger number of nerves distributed than the skin, so even minor external stimuli may cause a large amount of tear production to relieve pain and promote healing. 

• Food or environmental stimulation

Cats may be very sensitive to certain foods or specific odors in the environment, and these irritants may be transmitted to the brain through the sense of smell, causing a nervous system response, including tear secretion. 

• Obstruction of the tear ducts

A cat's tear ducts may be blocked due to congenital anomalies, infections, or trauma, which prevents tears from draining properly, causing them to pool and flow out of the corners of the eyes. 

How to Comfort a Tearful Cat?

When your cat is in tears, you can take the following steps to comfort it.

Provide a safe and comfortable environment

Make sure your cat is in a quiet, warm place, which helps it feel at ease.

Gentle physical contact

Gently pick up your cat and gently stroke it with your hand, especially on its favorite parts such as its head and back.

Talking and communication

Talk to your cat in a soft voice to let him know you are there and care about his feelings.

Distraction

Distract your cat with toys or games to help him forget about his discomfort for a while.

Check for foreign objects or discomfort

Carefully inspect your cat's eyes for foreign objects or redness, gently clean them with a cotton swab if necessary, and consider using a pet-specific eye cleaning solution.

Avoid forced interaction

If your cat doesn't want to be touched or played with, don't force it and let it decide when it's ready to interact again.

Seek veterinary help

If your cat's tearing is accompanied by other symptoms such as redness, swelling, increased discharge or behavioral changes, contact your veterinarian for an examination to rule out an underlying health problem. 

When to Visit the Veterinarian

When your cat develops tearing, there are several criteria you should use to determine if you need to take her to the veterinarian.

Persistence and degree

If your cat's tearing is sudden, persistent, or the amount of tears is abnormally high, this may be a sign of concern.

Accompanying Symptoms

If the cat has red, swollen eyes, increased discharge, conjunctivitis, keratitis, photophobia, itching or scratching of the eyes in addition to tearing, this may indicate an eye infection or other condition. 

Behavioral Changes

If your cat shows restlessness, loss of appetite, or changes in sleep patterns due to eye discomfort, this may indicate that he is experiencing pain or discomfort.

Response to Treatment

If you have tried home care measures, such as using pet-specific eye drops, and the symptoms have not improved or have worsened, this is an important reason to take your cat to the veterinarian. 

Eye Appearance

Carefully examine your cat's eyes for foreign bodies, abnormal discharge or other visible damage. If there is, this may require specialized treatment from your veterinarian.

Historical health conditions

If your cat has a history of eye problems or other health issues, he may be more susceptible to complications and should therefore be more vigilant.

FAQs

Where Are Tear Glands in Cats?

A cat's lacrimal glands are located on the inside of the eye, specifically, they are located on the side just below the corner of the eye. The main function of the lacrimal glands is to secrete tears that lubricate and protect the eye, as well as help remove impurities and microorganisms from the surface of the eye. Under normal conditions, tears flow through the lacrimal system into the nasal cavity, but if the lacrimal ducts are obstructed or excessive tear production occurs, the tears may spill out of the corners of the eyes and form tear stains .

Can Cats Cry When Sad?

Tears in cats do not necessarily indicate that they are feeling sad. Human psychologists distinguish between two types of tears: reflexive tears and emotional tears. Reflexive tears are caused by physical stimuli or illness, while emotional tears are associated with emotional experiences. Studies have shown that humans are the only species known to be able to experience emotional tears, whereas animals, including cats, do not usually shed tears due to sadness. 

Causes of tears in cats may include eye diseases, allergic reactions, impaction, foreign objects in the eye, upper respiratory infections, eye infections, eye injuries, feline glaucoma, and eye ulcers. In addition, cat tears can also be caused by stressors such as changes in the environment and the addition of a new pet. 

While cats may not shed tears out of sadness, they do express other emotions such as fear, anxiety or discomfort. Cats communicate these emotions through body language, purring and behavior, such as through the position of their tail, the direction of their ears and the look in their eyes to express their emotional state. 

In summary, cats shed tears more for physical reasons than for emotional expression. If your cat sheds tears frequently, it is advisable to observe its behavior and health and consult your veterinarian for timely examination and treatment.

What is the Function of Cat's Tears?

Tears in cats are primarily a physiological phenomenon of self-protection. The secretion of tears helps keep the eye moist, clean and resistant to bacterial infection. Tears are produced by the cat's lacrimal gland and pass through the tear film to cover the cornea and conjunctiva, forming a protective layer. The water in the tear film eventually flows through the nasolacrimal duct into the nasal cavity and helps to remove debris such as bacteria, viruses and dust from the eyes. 

When a cat's tears are overproduced or the tear ducts are obstructed, the tears are unable to drain through the normal pathway and will spill out of the corners of the eyes, forming tear tracks. The formation of tear stains may be due to eye diseases, foreign body irritation, anatomical abnormalities (e.g. short-nosed breeds of cats), ear mites, blockage of the nasolacrimal ducts and other reasons. 

The physiological role of tears in cats also includes regulating ocular humidity and lubricating the eyeballs to reduce friction, as well as protecting the eyes from damage by carrying away potential irritants and pathogens through the flow of tears. 

Does a Cat's Frequent Blinking Mean Its Eyes Are Uncomfortable?

Frequent blinking in cats can be a sign of eye discomfort. This behavior can be associated with eye infections, inflammation, foreign body irritation, tear duct problems, or other eye diseases. For example, conjunctivitis, keratitis, tear overflow, glaucoma, and cataracts can cause cats to blink frequently. If a cat's blinking is accompanied by symptoms such as redness and swelling of the eyelids, increased discharge, difficulty in fully opening the eyes, sensitivity to light, or rubbing of the eyes, this may indicate an inflammatory response in the eye that requires prompt attention and management. 

When observing frequent blinking, pet owners should carefully examine their cat's eyes and note any other signs of abnormality. If necessary, the eyes can be cleaned with a pet-specific eye cleaning solution and appropriate eye ointment can be used as appropriate. If symptoms persist or worsen, the cat should be taken to a veterinarian for professional examination and treatment.

Conclusion

While cats do not cry tears due to emotions, their eyes can water for various physical reasons. Whether it’s due to irritants, infections, or allergies, understanding the cause of your cat’s watery eyes is key to ensuring their health and well-being. By paying attention to their symptoms and seeking veterinary care when necessary, you can help keep your cat’s eyes clear, comfortable, and healthy.