Mary Allen
If conjunctivitis in cats is not treated, the animal can go blind. We name symptoms, causes, and therapy as well as preventive measures.
Conjunctivitis in cats can have many causes – so there are many preventive measures. Conjunctivitis (or conjunctivitis, as it’s technically known) is characterized by eye inflammation, swollen eyelids, and redness. It also happens that the cat’s eye waters.
Inflammation of the conjunctiva can have serious consequential damage and even lead to the blindness of the cat – that is why sick animals should definitely be presented to the veterinarian.
We explain the causes, symptoms, and consequences of conjunctivitis in cats and tell you how you can prevent the disease.
Conjunctivitis in Cats: Symptoms
If your cat has conjunctivitis, you can tell by a variety of signs. These are expressed either in one or even in both eyes:
- The eye waters.
- The eye and lid are swollen.
- Unpigmented (light) lid edges are red.
- The cat blinks more often.
- The diseased eye itches and hurts. The cat scratches and rubs it with its paw.
- The cat is afraid of light and no longer wants to be touched on the head.
The course of the disease of conjunctivitis
At the beginning of the eye infection, your cat’s tears are still flowing, you can observe a tear duct from the inner corner of the eye to the nose.
As the disease progresses, the discharge becomes thicker and can even become slimy. Sometimes there is also pus.
If your cat only affects one eye at first, the infection will eventually spread to the other eye.
Your cat’s eyes will then continue to swell shut. A prolapse of the nictitating membrane may occur. This is the third eyelid. If the cat is not helped, it will permanently close the diseased eye. This is called blepharospasm. If the conjunctivitis is still not treated, the eye can stick together. In the worst case, the nictitating membrane then grows together with the conjunctiva, the so-called cornea.
Cause of conjunctivitis
In conjunctivitis, a distinction is made between infectious and non-infectious causes, with the second type becoming infectious over time. Reasons without infection are common:
- draft
- allergies
- Foreign objects in the eye (e.g. dust or sand)
- injuries
- misalignment of the eyelids
Any injury to the eye is a risk of infection and should be treated by a veterinarian.
The causes of infectious conjunctivitis are usually:
- Bacteria (chlamydia or other)
- Viruses (often herpes or calici)
- Mushrooms
This inflammation is contagious. For this reason, a cat with conjunctivitis should never have contact with other animals. And caution is advised because the pathogens can also be transmitted to humans!
Treat conjunctivitis in cats
You should definitely take conjunctivitis seriously and not try to treat your darling yourself. Be sure to take your four-legged friend to the vet!
He examines your cat’s eye with a special eye lamp. Using a fluorescein test, the eye is examined for injuries to the cornea, and blockage of the nasolacrimal canal is ruled out.
The cause of the inflammation can only reveal by a swab. The vet takes some discharge from the corner of the eye and examines it for pathogens. Only then can ointments or drops be prescribed for treatment. Antibiotics and cortisone are often necessary.
There are no effective home remedies for infectious inflammation of the eyes. Cooling with a damp cloth can give the cat some relief.
In order to prevent other diseases as well, it is important to ensure that your house tiger is fed, kept, and cared for correctly.
Prevent conjunctivitis
A few simple measures are sufficient to prevent infectious diseases such as cat cold (often a cause of conjunctivitis):
- no contact with sick animals
- vaccinate against herpes viruses, Chlamydophila felis, and others
- Remove allergens from the environment
- flea prevention
To ensure that your kitty enjoys long-term health, we have put together a few tips for you that you can use to tell if your kitten is missing something.