Mary Allen
The cat’s eyes water and you are quite right to worry about your animal. True, the reason for this may be harmless. But sometimes there is something serious behind it.
If the cat’s eye is watering, the first question is always whether this is harmless. Maybe it’s just a brief stimulus. And indeed, this is often the reason why the cat’s eye waters.
Like humans, cats occasionally suffer from watery eyes when they are irritated. The cause of the irritation can be quite harmless, but in some cases, it is a serious illness such as conjunctivitis or even a cat cold. The latter infection not only causes a runny nose but also watery eyes.
Read our guide to find out what causes watery eyes in cats and what the treatment could look like.
Causes when the cat’s eye is watering
- cold or heat
- extremely dry air
- sand or dust
- Contact with sprays and gases (perfume etc.)
- foreign body in the eye
- curled lower lid
- Infections due to fungi, viruses, or bacteria
- blocked tear duct
- injured or inflamed cornea (easily happens from cat fights)
- Green Star
Keep calm and go to the vet
If the cat’s watery eyes are not due to a short-term, harmless irritation, a trip to the veterinarian is essential. He can reliably clarify the cause of this in order to initiate the right therapy.
That’s why going to the vet is important
While a cat’s teary eye can be harmless, it’s important to get it checked out. A veterinarian can clarify whether it needs treatment.
If a serious illness such as glaucoma or glaucoma is present, it may even be advisable to visit a veterinary clinic. There you will find eye specialists for animals who can initiate targeted treatment. They also have sophisticated diagnostic options that a regular veterinarian usually does not have.
If the disease is left untreated, the animal’s health can deteriorate significantly. Loss of sight and other consequences are possible.
Treatment of watery eyes in cats
As soon as the veterinarian knows the cause of the watery eyes, he can choose the right medication. If it is bacteria such as chlamydia, antibiotic therapy is recommended. It is not usually injected, but takes the form of ointments and drops.
Experienced cat owners already recognize the difficulty here: How do I administer the medication to my fur nose? After all, it must be put in the eye several times a day. If ointment or drops burn, this triggers an escape reflex in the house cat. It is all the more important that the owner remains calm.
Cats are very good at uncovering their owners’ dark plans. For this reason, masters or mistresses should get the medication out of the fridge early on. When the moment is right, the animal is placed on a table and petted. Then the lower eyelid is gently pulled down to apply the medication. It is important to fix the cat’s head firmly with your hands. If in doubt, have a family member help. If the cat is very restless, wrapping it in a towel is recommended.
In rare cases, the administration of ointments and drops does not help. If the animal suffers from a roll-lid, surgical intervention by the veterinarian is required. The same usually applies to glaucoma or glaucoma. It is usually genetic and causes the intraocular pressure to rise immensely. Even then, surgery is usually necessary. If you are insured accordingly, the animal insurance for the cat usually covers the costs.
Home remedies for watery eyes
Some pet owners want to take their cats to the vet as little as possible. There is often no stinginess behind this, but they want to spare the beloved animal the stress. For many cats, even the trip to the vet is an ordeal.
Unfortunately, veterinary treatment is unavoidable when injuries or infections are present. Home remedies are often not enough to treat it. As soon as the pet owner notices that the animal has watery eyes, he should wait a maximum of one day. If the symptoms persist, a visit to the veterinarian is essential.
In addition to this, there are ways to help the animal with eye therapy. This includes gently cleaning the eye using lukewarm water and a lint-free cloth. Eyebright from the pharmacy can also prove helpful. In any case, it is advisable to consult your veterinarian.
The chamomile extract that is so popular can sometimes have the opposite effect. In the case of conjunctivitis, it only irritates the eye additionally.
Cat breeds prone to watery eyes
There are also cat breeds that are particularly prone to watery eyes. This includes breeds that have very short noses. Eye discharge is particularly common among them. Irritated conjunctiva is also a classic clinical picture.
These breeds include the Persian cat and the Exotic Shorthair cat. Unfortunately, due to complex breeding, in which cats with extremely short noses were chosen for breeding, watery eyes often appear.
If necessary, a veterinarian can carry out a test to determine the extent to which the cat’s tear duct is blocked. However, there is usually no surgical therapy.
Eye discharge in cats
The eye discharge in cats is called epiphora. It doesn’t matter whether the cat has blue or green eyes: the discharge in cats can be clear or, depending on the cause, take on a brownish or reddish color. Partly it is watery, partly slimy.
If the cat is otherwise healthy, the eyes are neither glued nor veiled. She doesn’t always close one eye or even both eyes. If she does, it can be a sign of pain. If the pupil has become smaller, this may be due to a disease.
This is how you should control the cat’s eye
Cats don’t like it when someone examines their eyes. For this reason, it is important that the holder waits for a relaxed moment. For example, if the animal is dozing in its favorite place, you can take a careful look at its eyes.
It is best for the owner to slowly feel his way forward and scratch the animal at the same time. If the cat remains calm, now is the time to pull down the possibly irritated lower eyelid. If it looks swollen or very red, it may be sick. Encrustations and traces of tears also indicate an illness. Then, as mentioned above, visit your veterinarian so that he can uncover the causes and help your darling quickly.