Cats depend heavily on their sharp vision to explore, play, and keep themselves safe, which makes maintaining healthy eyes essential. Just like humans, though, they can develop eye infections.
These infections can cause extreme discomfort for your cats, all while potentially leading to more serious issues if not treated early on. That’s why we’re here, to help you with everything you need to know about feline eye infections.
What Causes Eye Infections in Cats?
Cats and eye infections are a common duo, with several factors to blame. Here are some of the common causes of cat eye infections:
Bacteria
Eye issues in cats, particularly infections, are commonly caused by bacteria like Chlamydia felis and Mycoplasma spp. A common result of this is conjunctivitis, otherwise known as pink eye in cats.
Cats with an eye infection caused by bacteria can also experience severe symptoms like corneal ulcers.
Additionally, these are highly contagious, easily spreading to other cats through direct contact and exposure to eye discharge. Areas where lots of cats reside, like multi-cat households, shelters, and boarding facilities, are at risk of eye infections.
Fungi
Feline eye infections can also be caused by fungi. While these are less common than bacteria, fungal eye infections can cause some major problems, like eye discharge and corneal ulcers. Some of the major fungi causing eye problems are Aspergillus and Candida.
While not all fungal infections of the eye are contagious, there are some that can easily spread through direct contact with an infected cat or contaminated spaces.
Viruses
Viruses are another major cause of eye infections in cats, and they can do more than just irritate the eyes. Common culprits like feline herpesvirus and feline calicivirus can cause eye infections, while also causing problems in the respiratory system.
Both can lead to eye inflammation, discharge, and corneal ulcers, which often come with respiratory symptoms like sneezing and nasal congestion. These infections are chronic, meaning they persist for a long time.
Additionally, another indirect cause is the feline immunodeficiency virus, which is a pathogen that weakens the cat’s immune system. As a result, the cat becomes susceptible to secondary infections, including those that affect its eyes.
Scratches and Injuries
In some cases, a cat eye infection can start from a simple injury. Cats are curious by nature, which means you can expect them to jump around or sneak outside for a backyard adventure.
Outdoor hazards like dust, debris, animal fights, or sharp objects can injure the delicate surface of the eye. Once there's an open wound, it becomes easy for bacteria or other pathogens to get in and cause an infection.
Allergic Reactions
Feline allergies do not directly cause the eye infection, but they can set the stage for one. Common allergens like pollen, dust, and mold can irritate a cat’s eyes, which leads to irritation, redness, and tearing.
As a result, cats tend to scratch or paw at their own eyes, leading to scratches and tiny injuries. This can potentially start eye infections, as bacteria and other pathogens can easily get in.
What are the Symptoms of Cat Eye Infections?
Since cats can't tell us when their eyes are bothering them, it’s up to us to spot the subtle signs that something may be wrong.
Here are the signs of eye infections in cats:
Watery Eyes. Excessive tearing can be one of the first signs of an eye infection. While some cats, especially certain breeds, may naturally have slightly watery eyes, a noticeable increase in tearing could indicate an infection.
Discharge. You may notice a discharge from your cat’s eye, which can vary in color and consistency. Clear discharge might be less serious and linked to mild irritation, but thick yellow or green discharge is often a sign of infection and should be checked.
Redness and Swelling. If the white areas of your cat’s eyes or the surrounding tissues appear red, swollen, or irritated, this could indicate inflammation caused by an infection. Swelling can also appear in the areas around the eye itself.
Squinting or Excessive Blinking. Cats with eye infections often squint or blink more than usual as a response to discomfort. If you notice your cat keeping one of its eyes closed or blinking them frequently, it may be a sign of irritation.
Pawing at the Eye. Cats will often paw or rub their face when something is irritating their eyes. While an occasional paw swipe isn’t unusual, excessive and repetitive scratching could worsen the eye infection and lead to more injuries.
Sensitivity to Light. A cat’s eyes can be sensitive to light when it has an eye infection. You’ll start to notice this when you see your cat shying away from sources of bright light and avoiding the sun during the daytime.
How are Eye Infections in Cats Diagnosed?
We use a series of tests to diagnose feline eye infections accurately. Here are some of the methods we use:
Ocular Examination
The first step we take is to physically examine your cat’s eyes. During the checkup, we’ll check on your cat’s condition and both of its eyes. Our ophthalmologists will look for any signs, like redness, eye discharge, and other symptoms of an eye infection.
The next steps we take will depend on what our observations are.
Fluorescein Dye Test
One of the tests we commonly use is the fluorescein dye test. By using and applying a special dye to the surface of your cat’s eyes, any damage to the cornea will be highlighted.
Injuries such as ulcers and scratches can absorb the dye and appear green under a cobalt blue light. Through this test, we can now see where to proceed.
Culture and Sensitivity Test
If your cat’s eye infection might be speculated to come from a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection, we’ll take a sample from the discharge and bring it to our in-house laboratory for testing. This sample is cultured to identify the specific pathogen, particularly bacteria.
This process helps us choose the best treatment for your cat’s eye problems since we are able to test out different antibiotics. This means your cat will be given the best treatment tested by our experts.
Cytology
Using a sterile swab, our vets collect a sample of the discharge or cell samples from your cat’s eyes. This sample will be examined under a microscope, where the exact pathogen, the type of inflammation, and other microorganisms will be identified.
Allergy Testing
While allergy testing can’t directly diagnose feline infections, they are essential when dealing with situations involving allergies. Here, we’ll identify the specific allergen, then make recommendations for some changes at home or with its food.
How are Cat Eye Infections Treated?
Once we’ve identified the cause, we can get straight to treatment. Here are the treatments for eye infections in cats.
Topical Treatments
Eye drops for cat eye infections are often the most recommended choice for most cases. They are effective at directly addressing the infection, plus they are easy to use at home. Ointments can also be used to reduce inflammation, alleviate pain, and treat the infection.
You just need to administer these drops a few times daily, depending on what we recommend for your cat.
Oral Medications
Oral medications can also help address the root cause of the issue, whether it’s bacteria, fungi, or viruses. While not all medications work to kill the pathogen, these treatments help reduce the symptoms and give relief to your cat’s eyes.
They can also be used in conjunction with other forms of treatment to help your cat recover.
Supportive Treatments
If allergies are suspected to be the main antagonist of your cat’s eye infection, we’ll help your cat recover from these allergies through supportive treatments. These can include:
Adjusting your cat’s diet
Using air purifiers
Minimizing outdoor time
Changing your cat’s environment
Using E-collars
Can Cat Eye Infections Be Prevented?
Preventing eye infections in your cats keeps their eyes healthy for playtimes and cuddles. Here are a few tips to prevent cat eye infections:
Regular Vet Checkups. Routine checkups are among the best ways to monitor your cat’s overall health, including their eyes. During these visits, our ophthalmologists can identify potential issues early and provide quick treatments.
Maintain a Clean Home. Keeping a clean living area helps remove the dust, bacteria, mold, and other factors that could threaten your cats with eye infections. Use air purifiers, wash their bedding, and regularly change their litter boxes.
Proper Grooming and Eye Care. Regular cat grooming helps ward off eye infections. Brushing, bathing, and gently cleaning around the eyes can help remove dirt, allergens, and bacteria before they cause problems.
Keep Your Cat Indoors. Keeping your cat indoors reduces the risk of developing eye infections due to increased exposure to bacteria, viruses, allergens, and injuries.
Boost Your Cat’s Nutrition. Feeding your cat healthy and nutritious food can help protect them from infections, especially those involving their eyes. Make sure your cats eat a well-balanced diet with healthy supplements.
“Healthy eyes help cats see the world and avoid the trouble they love to find. A little bit of care helps them keep this gift.”
- Dr. Lidija Krvavac
Conclusion
Caring for your cats’ eyes is essential to ensuring their overall well-being. If left untreated, eye infections can cause a lot of pain and even lead to more serious issues.
Luckily, these infections can be managed. There are several ways to prevent and treat cat eye infections. From regular grooming to administering a few eye drops, you can help your cat see the world a bit more clearly.
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