Cats' eyes are quite unique, even among other animals. They have large, beautiful, shining eyes with vertical slits that enable them to see exceptionally well, even at night.
When your cat looks up at you with big, bright eyes, he probably communicates many different thoughts—he's excited and wants to play, he's feeling mushy and wants love, or you've displeased him and he's annoyed with you.
One thing we don't want to see when we look into our cats' eyes is an infection.
Causes of Eye Infections in Cats
Feline eye infections can have infectious and non-infectious causes. Infectious eye problems are caused when an infectious agent—usually a virus—gets into the eye.
Non-infectious causes are a result of some kind of illness or injury that causes trauma to the eye. Some of these causes include allergies, foreign objects getting into the eye, getting hit in the eye, a tumor, corneal ulcer, or conjunctivitis.
Eye infections can be very contagious, so keep your cat isolated from other pets if you suspect he has an infection. Thankfully, with the right care, most eye infections will clear up nicely.
Cat Eye Infection Symptoms
Cats are very good at hiding it when they're in pain or feeling sick, but it is hard for them to hide eye problems. Usually, when there is an eye infection, you'll notice signs and symptoms such as squinting, blinking, or rubbing. The eye may appear red, swollen, or watery, or may have a yellow or green discharge around it. Your cat's eye may look cloudier than usual, or your cat may appear to be particularly sensitive to the light.
Your cat may try to hide from you and may not want to be bothered. You may notice he is particularly grumpy and unwilling to let you touch his face.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Since different things may cause an infection, only a veterinarian can provide the eye exam necessary to determine the cause of an eye infection. The vet will ask you some questions about your cat's health and history and use diagnostic tools to perform a comprehensive eye exam.
Once the cause of the infection is determined, your vet can prescribe the appropriate treatments, such as antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, or, in some cases, surgery.
We Can Help
If your cat appears to have an eye irritation or infection, don't administer over-the-counter treatments or home remedies. If you don't know the source of the infection; you may unwittingly cause more damage. Let us apply our expertise and determine the cause of the infection, and help you with a treatment plan.
The Animal Doctors in Palo Alto have been committed to offering high-quality veterinary care to pets, and outstanding customer service to their humans, for 40 years. Our patients in Palo Alto and the surrounding areas are our best advertisement, spreading their satisfaction by word-of-mouth. We are proud to have earned their trust and approval.
The Animal Doctors have been accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association since 1987, meaning we achieve the highest standards of cleanliness, professionalism, patient care, and quality of veterinary medicine. Only 15% of veterinarians in the United States are AAHA accredited.
Call us today if you're worried about your cat's eye infection. Our areas of coverage include the San Francisco Peninsula, including Atherton, Cupertino, East Palo Alto, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Menlo Park, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Portola Valley, Redwood City, Stanford, and Woodside.
