Mary Allen
Healthy cats don’t usually need help with eye care. Persian cats can be an exception – at least if they suffer from constant watery eyes. Read here why the velvet paws are susceptible to this problem and how their owners can support them.
Persian cats are characterized by their rather short nose, flat face and large, round eyes – the more pronounced these physical characteristics are, the more prone the pedigree cats are to health problems. This applies in particular to the eye area of the velvet paws. Fortunately, many breeders now act responsibly and refrain from breeding strongly Persian-typical traits. However, if you have a more classic Persian type at home – perhaps from an animal shelter – your cat may develop eye problems and need a little extra care.
Take Regular Care of Watery Eyes
The flatter the face and the shorter the nose of a Persian cat, the greater the likelihood that the nasolacrimal canal is kinked, preventing tears from draining properly. In this case, the excess tear fluid flows out of the eyes. Constantly watering eyes can cause tear ducts, discoloration, and crusts under the cat’s eyes. To remove these, it is best to take a clean, lint-free cloth and moisten it with lukewarm water. Then gently clean the area under the eyes with wiping movements from the eye towards the nose. You can repeat this procedure every day and carefully remove any slight incrustations with your fingers.
More Tips on How to Care for Your Persian Cat’s Eyes
So that your Persian cat stays still while cleaning its eyes and perhaps even finds the grooming unit pleasant, you should get it used to be touched around its eyes as a kitten. Simply stroke it’s around its eyes when it is being cuddled and praise her when it is good.
It is also important that you keep a close eye on your pet. If your cat’s eyes are swollen, if your cat keeps blinking, or if the tears are white or yellowish, you should go to the vet as soon as possible, because eye injuries and diseases can have serious consequences and should therefore always be treated promptly.