Cat Eye Infections:Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Eye infections in cats can be caused by a variety of reasons, including bacteria, viruses, mycoplasma, chlamydia, and other pathogens. Symptoms of infection may include red, swollen eyes, increased discharge, tearing, and photophobia. Treating cat eye infections usually involves the use of antibiotic eye drops or ointments, and in severe cases oral antibiotics or antiviral medications may be required. During treatment, cats should be prevented from scratching their eyes and their living environment should be kept clean and sanitary. If the cat's eye infection symptoms are severe or persist without improvement, the cat should be taken to a veterinary clinic for professional treatment. At home, saline or pet-specific eye care solution can be used to gently wipe the cat's eyes to help clean the eyes, and medication recommended by the veterinarian can be used for treatment. During the course of treatment, the veterinarian's instructions should be followed to ensure proper use of the medication and to complete the entire course of treatment to avoid recurrence of the infection.

Why Do Cats Get Eye Infections?

Cats get ophthalmia for a variety of reasons, including the following.

Infectious factors

The most common cause of conjunctivitis in cats is caused by bacteria or viruses, such as feline herpesvirus, chlamydia, and mycoplasma.

Non-infectious factors

Foreign objects enter the eyelids resulting in accidental injury to the conjunctiva, such as sand or dust; external injuries to the eyes, such as fights and scratches between cats, accidental bruises, etc. resulting in inflammation of the conjunctiva; inverted eyelashes of the cat's eyes, the eyes are subject to long-term friction to trigger inflammation; blockage of the tear ducts and so on. 

Fungal Infections

While less common, fungal infections can also lead to eye problems in cats. Fungi such as Cryptococcus can cause serious eye infections, particularly in immunocompromised cats. These infections may be harder to treat and often require specialized care.

Environmental stimulation

Exposure to foreign substances such as plant matter, fibers, sand and chemicals, as well as environmental irritants such as smoke and dust, can cause conjunctivitis. 

Immune-mediated diseases

Such as eosinophilic conjunctivitis, an immune-mediated disease that may also spread to the cornea, resulting in eosinophilic infiltration, ulceration, and/or blood vessel formation. 

Allergic reactions

Exposure of cats to certain substances, such as hair and pollen, may cause an allergic reaction, which in turn can lead to conjunctivitis. 

Also Read: What Are Cats Allergic to

Idiopathic problem

This means that there is no clear cause of the problem. 

Symptoms of conjunctivitis in cats may include redness of the eyes, abnormal discharge from the eyes, swelling of the conjunctiva, squinting or excessive blinking, and occasional scratching of the eyes. If your cat is experiencing any of these symptoms, you should consult your veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment.

What Are The Symptoms of Cat Eye Infection?

Common symptoms of eye infections in cats include.

1. Redness, swelling and congestion of the eyes
2. Increased eye discharge, which may be watery, mucous, or purulent
3. Eye pain, cats may blink or rub their eyes frequently
4. Eyes are closed and the cat may be reluctant to open them due to discomfort
5. The skin around the eyes may appear red, swollen or inflamed
6. The eyes may have a foreign body sensation or a foreign object adhering to the eyeballs
7. The cat may show irritability or loss of appetite due to eye discomfort

These symptoms may be caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites or other factors that cause eye infections. If your cat shows any of these symptoms, you should take it to the veterinary clinic for examination and treatment. 

Related: Understanding and Managing Cat Swollen Eyes

How to Properly Clean Your Cat's Infected Eyes?

The steps to properly clean your cat's infected eye are as follows.

Prepare the tools

You need to prepare clean cotton swabs or cotton balls, saline or pet-specific eye care solution, sterile gauze and paper towels.

Wash and disinfect your hands

Before handling your cat's eyes, make sure your hands are clean to minimize the risk of infection.

Immobilize the cat

Use one hand to gently hold your cat and use the other hand to gently immobilize your cat's head to prevent it from struggling during the cleaning process.

Cleaning the eyes

Use a moist cotton ball or cotton swab moistened with saline to gently wipe from the inner corner of the cat's eye (the side near the nose) to the outer corner (the side near the ear) to remove secretions. If the secretion is hard, you can let it soften before gently wiping to avoid injury caused by excessive force.

Using eye care solution

If recommended by your veterinarian, you can help reduce inflammation and promote healing by applying an appropriate amount of eye care solution drops after cleaning.

Cleaning around the eye

Use sterile gauze or paper towels to gently wipe the moist fur around your cat's eyes.

Avoid cross infection

Use a fresh swab or cotton ball to clean the other eye to prevent cross infection.

Observe the cat's reaction

During the cleaning process, watch your cat's reaction to make sure it is comfortable and do not force it to stay in an uncomfortable position.

Post-cleaning care

After cleaning, you can let your cat rest quietly to avoid it scratching its eyes with its paws immediately.

Please note that if your cat's eye infection is severe or persistent, you should take him to your veterinarian immediately for professional treatment. It is best to consult your veterinarian before using any medication.

How to Treat a Cat's Eye Infection

When a cat develops an eye infection, the following treatments should be taken immediately.

Isolation and cleaning

Isolate your cat from other pets to minimize the risk of spreading the infection. Gently wipe your cat's eyes with saline or a pet-specific eye cleaning solution to help remove discharge and possible irritants.

Use of medications

Use antibiotic eye drops or ointment as directed by your veterinarian.

1. Antibiotic eye drops or ointment: for bacterial infections, such as Prozac eye drops, which can be used for mild to severe infections.

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2. Antiviral medications: for viral infections, such as feline herpesvirus, antiviral medications may be needed.
3. Anti-inflammatory medications: help reduce eye inflammation and promote healing.
4. Nutritional supplements: such as L-lysine, can help inhibit viral replication and reduce symptoms of infection.

Wearing an Elizabethan collar

To prevent your cat from scratching the eye, an Elizabethan collar should be worn to protect the treated area and promote healing.

Monitoring symptoms

Closely monitor your cat's eye condition, including redness, swelling, discharge, and pain response. If symptoms do not improve or worsen, contact your veterinarian.

Avoid self-medication

Do not self-administer human eye drops or medications that have not been recommended by your veterinarian, as this may exacerbate your cat's symptoms or cause adverse reactions.

Remember that prompt veterinary treatment is essential for your cat's recovery from an eye infection. Follow your veterinarian's professional recommendations for treatment and care.

How to Daily Care for Cat's Eyes?

In order to prevent cat eye infections, the following daily care measures can be taken.

• Regular cleaning of the eyes

Use a cotton ball or gauze moistened with saline or pet-specific eyewash to gently wipe the corners of your cat's eyes and clean them at least once a day to remove dirt and secretions from the eyes.

• Maintain environmental hygiene

Regularly clean your cat's living environment and maintain indoor air circulation to reduce the risk of eye infections. 

• Trim the hair around the eyes

Regularly trim the hair around your cat's eyes to keep it neat and tidy and reduce the occurrence of eye problems. 

• Checking eye health

Regularly check your cat's eye health and take your cat to the veterinarian once you find any abnormalities. 

• Use special eye care products

On the advice of the veterinarian, you can choose eye care products suitable for cats, such as eye drops and ointments, to help soothe eye discomfort.

• Maintain a healthy diet

Choose nutritious, low-salt cat food to ensure your cat gets enough vitamins and minerals to help protect eye health. 

• Enhance your cat's immunity

Take your cat for regular medical checkups to understand their health condition and adjust the care method in time. 

Through the above measures, you can effectively reduce the risk of cat eye infections and keep your cat's eyes healthy.

How to Care for Cat's Diet and Living Environment During an Infection?

Measures to care for your cat's diet and living environment during an infection include.

Dietary care

• Provide easily digestible and nutritious food, such as high-quality cat food and fish. Some probiotics can be fed to the cat appropriately to help regulate the balance of intestinal flora and improve immunity.
• If the cat loses its appetite, try to provide fluid food, such as diluted glucose water, honey water, fish soup or broth, as well as fluid food recommended by the doctor that is suitable for sick cats.
• Ensure that your cat has adequate water intake, and if necessary, use syringes or small spoons to feed small amounts of food several times. 

Living environment care

• Keep the cat's living environment clean and hygienic, regularly clean the litter box, disinfect the tableware and litter, etc.
• Ensure that the indoor temperature is appropriate and provide a warm and comfortable resting environment, especially in winter to prevent cold and keep warm.
• If the cat has symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea, fasting and water fasting measures should be taken in a timely manner and infusion treatment should be considered.
• Provide cats with a quiet, secure environment where they can rest in peace. 

The above measures will help support the overall health of the cat and promote faster recovery. While implementing the nursing measures, the cat's condition should be closely monitored and the professional advice of the veterinarian should be followed.

When to See a Vet

Cats with severe eye infections may exhibit the following symptoms, which indicate the need to take your cat to the doctor immediately.

• Frequent blinking or inability to open the cat's eyes, which may be due to eye pain or discomfort.
• Swelling of the eyelids, which may be due to trauma, infection or allergies.
• Eye droppings that are abnormal in color, especially if they are yellowish-green, which is a clear sign of infection.
• Redness in the whites of the eyes, which may be a sign of allergies, infection, or high intraocular pressure.
• Dull eyes with no reflection visible may be due to dry eyes or ulcers on the cornea due to insufficient tear production.
• Cats showing significant discomfort, such as not being able to open their eyes, may be a sign of a serious infection.
• Persistent thick discharge from the eyes, which may indicate a serious infection or other complications.
• The cat's mental state is poor, such as poor diet and lethargy, which may be a systemic symptom caused by the infection.

If your cat develops any of these symptoms, you should immediately stop treating it yourself at home and contact your veterinarian for professional treatment as soon as possible to avoid further deterioration of the infection or long-term health problems.

FAQs

How to Know a Cat Eye Infection is Caused by a Bacteria or a Virus?

Distinguishing whether a cat eye infection is caused by bacteria or a virus can be initially determined by observing the symptoms in your cat's eyes. Bacterial infections usually result in red, swollen eyes and increased discharge, which may be clear tears or yellow mucus. Viral infections, such as feline herpesvirus, may cause pus in the eyes, a noticeable increase in brown discharge from the eyes and nose, and more severe symptoms. 

In actuality, a veterinarian may be required to confirm the exact type of infection through laboratory testing, as symptoms alone may not be enough to accurately differentiate between bacterial and viral infections. If your cat's eye infection symptoms are severe or continue to fail to improve, you should take your cat to the doctor promptly in order to obtain professional diagnosis and treatment.

What Solution is More Appropriate to Use to Moisten Swabs for Cat Eye Infections?

In the case of a cat eye infection, using saline to moisten the swab is a more appropriate choice. Saline is an isotonic solution that can help clean the eye without causing additional irritation or pain. It effectively removes eye discharge and possible foreign bodies while maintaining the natural moistness of the eye. Before use, make sure the swabs are sterile to avoid cross-contamination. During the cleaning process, be gentle and avoid rubbing hard enough to injure your cat's eyes or eyelids. Other types of eye drops or ointments may also be needed to treat the infection as directed by your veterinarian. After cleaning, treatment and care should continue as recommended by your veterinarian.

Why Cannot Directly Clean Cat's Eyes with Ordinary Water?

There are several main reasons why you cannot directly clean your cat's eyes with ordinary water.

• Bacteria and contaminants

Ordinary water may contain bacteria and other contaminants, and these microorganisms and impurities may cause or aggravate infections in your cat's eyes.

• Irritation

Ordinary water has a different pH and electrolyte balance than cat tears, which may irritate your cat's eyes and cause discomfort or further eye problems.

• Cleaning effect

Plain water is not as effective at cleaning as saline, which has a similar concentration to tears and can clean the eyes more gently while reducing irritation.

• Professional Recommendations

Veterinarians often recommend using saline or pet-specific eye cleaning products to clean your cat's eyes to ensure safety and effectiveness. 

Therefore, in order to protect the health of your cat's eyes, you should avoid using normal water for cleaning and instead choose appropriate eye cleaning products.

When to Remove Cat's Elizabethan Ring After an Eye Infection?

The time to remove the Elizabethan collar after a cat's eye infection depends on your cat's specific recovery and your veterinarian's recommendation. Usually, the Elizabethan collar needs to be worn until the cat's eye has fully recovered to prevent the cat from scratching or licking the eye, which may take a few days to a week or more. After the cat's eye symptoms have significantly improved and the scratching or licking behavior is no longer present, the veterinarian can be consulted on whether the Elizabethan collar can be removed. In some cases, if the cat has a safe environment at home, the veterinarian may recommend supervised removal of the Elizabethan ring for a short period of time to promote further eye recovery and comfort. Throughout the recovery period, your veterinarian's instructions should be followed and your cat's eyes should be examined regularly to ensure that the infection is properly treated.

Do Cats Need to Avoid Contact with Other Animals to Prevent Cross-Infection After Infection?

Yes, when a cat is infected with a disease, it does need to avoid contact with other household pets or other animals to prevent cross-infection. Certain viral and bacterial diseases, such as feline distemper and feline herpesvirus, can be transmitted to other animals through direct contact, saliva and excreta. In order to protect the health of other animals, infected cats should be isolated and living materials, such as food bowls, water bowls and cat litter pans, should be strictly differentiated to reduce the risk of infection. Meanwhile, the living environment of the cat should be cleaned and disinfected regularly and gloves should be worn when handling the excreta and cleaning of the infected cat. In addition, people taking care of infected cats should also pay attention to personal hygiene to avoid spreading the virus to humans or other pets. During the period of infection, the cat's health status should be closely monitored and veterinarians' instructions should be followed for treatment and management.

Why Should Regularly Trim the Hair Around Cat's Eyes?

Regularly trimming the hair around your cat's eyes is very important to maintain the health of your cat's eyes. Excessive hair around your cat's eyes may irritate the eyes and cause frequent tearing, resulting in tear stains. Tear stains not only affect your cat's appearance, but can also be a sign of an eye infection. With regular trimming, you can minimize hair irritation to the eyes, help keep the eyes dry, reduce the risk of eye disease, and keep your cat's eyes looking cleaner and healthier. When trimming, special pet scissors should be used and handled carefully to avoid damaging your cat's eyes. 

Conclusion

Eye infections in cats can cause significant discomfort and, if left untreated, lead to more serious health issues. Understanding the causes and symptoms of these infections is key to ensuring your cat receives prompt and effective treatment. Regular eye care and preventive measures can help reduce the risk of infections, keeping your cat’s eyes healthy and clear. If you notice any signs of an eye infection in your cat, don’t hesitate to consult your veterinarian for the best course of action.

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