Cats are known to have very adorable eyes. Their eyes tell the story of their emotions and feelings. But when those eyes get watery and sparkling, this tends to be a problem. Cats are sensitive creatures, which is why it falls upon us to take care of them. 

Understanding how to treat watery eyes in cats is just one of the many responsibilities we shoulder as their caretakers.

What are Watery Eyes in Cats?

Watery eyes in cats are a common issue that stems from a variety of factors such as allergic reactions and infections. Another name for watery eyes in cats is epiphora. The best way to treat this is to give your cat the appropriate veterinary care such as medications, surgery, and flushing. 

While the choice depends on the vet's analysis and diagnosis, epiphora requires immediate attention once it is noticed in your cat’s eyes.

What Causes Watery Eyes in Cats

Lots of causes can be the beginning of watery eyes in cats. It’s important to narrow them down in order to determine the appropriate treatment for your cat. If your cat’s eyes are watering, take a look at possible reasons why this is happening.

If you see any of these symptoms, bring your cat immediately to our emergency vets for quick treatment.

Blocked Tear Ducts

Tear ducts are the openings that work as a drainage for tears. When tear drainage systems are blocked, tears can remain in the eyes and cause them to look watery. This can lead to a multitude of problems for your cat such as eye irritation and infection. 

Since these tear ducts are blocked, tears can also find their way to your cat’s face and skin. This in itself can cause infection, irritation, and inflammation.

Allergies

Allergies are the responses of a cat’s immune system whenever an allergen comes into contact with your cat. Allergens around the environment such as dust, pollen, perfumes, and mold can be the reason why your cat has watery eyes. 

Allergies can manifest from contact with these factors, and the reaction might be the answer to why your cat has watery eyes. 

Infections

Bacteria and viruses can cause infections that would lead to your cat getting watery eyes. Cat eye infections such as conjunctivitis are common in cats, and treatment is usually readily available. Once diagnosed, the eyes must be treated immediately in order to prevent any significant complications from manifesting. 

Small Particles

Small particles such as dust, debris, and dirt may irritate your cat’s eyes and cause watery eyes. Since cats love to explore and jump around anywhere, they can land their paws on. It places them at a higher risk of getting into contact with tiny particles that could potentially cause irritations and swelling. 

Genetics

While watery eyes are common in cats, some breeds experience it even more. Persians and Himalayans have body structures such as flat and squished faces, short faces, or rounded skulls that prevent their tears from draining properly. 

When these happen, tears don’t fall into the tear duct and instead fall into their fur and skin. This can cause irritation and inflammation.  

Eye Injuries

Eye injuries might happen when your cat comes into contact with hazardous surfaces or fights with cats. Their claws can do significant damage, and your cat’s eyes might be the victim. 

When your cat’s eyes get scratched, it can cause watery eyes and other more complicated issues. Protecting your cat from other cats is a big responsibility that should be upheld. 

What are the Symptoms of Watery Eyes in Cats

Symptoms of watery eyes in cats may vary at times depending on the cause. Some don’t even manifest clearly enough to diagnose at the earliest stages. Here are some signs of watery eyes in cats to look out for:

Runny and Watery Eyes

The most obvious sign of watery eyes in cats is watery eyes. Cats' eyes get sparkly, and tears may either roll down their faces or gather up in their eyes. It can also be observed that the area between their eyes gets damp.

Redness or Swelling

Redness or swelling around the eyes may be a sign of watery eyes. This happens when blocked tears produce swelling that appears around their eyes. 

Colored Discharge

Cats' eyes may produce a colored discharge whenever they get watery eyes. This is one of the more serious symptoms, as it tells us that an infection caused the problem. The color of the discharge will tell the microbial responsible for the color change.

Clear discharge means that the cause is a virus while a yellow or green discharge will indicate a bacterial infection.

Skin Irritation

If tears keep falling into your cat’s skin due to a blocked tear duct, skin irritation might occur. This can lead to further injury or even infection.

How to Diagnose Watery Eyes in Cats

Diagnosing watery eyes in cats starts with the owner. A well-informed owner can determine if your cat has watery eyes. While this initial inspection determines whether your cat needs to visit a veterinarian, it is not a definite answer. 

Our vets will always help you give your cat the care it deserves. These are the ways our veterinarians diagnose watery eyes in cats:

Veterinary Inspection

Our pet ophthalmologists will physically inspect your cat’s eyes to get an initial reading. This will involve tools such as an ophthalmoscope to inspect the tear ducts and other nearby tissue to look for inflammations and damage.

Schirmer Tear Test

The Schirmer tear test measures the amount of tears the eyes produce. A test strip is used to absorb the tears present in the lower eyelid of the cat. The results tell the veterinarian if the cat has an abnormal level of tears.

Eye Staining

Fluorescein staining tests for tear drainage and can assess if your cat has watery eyes. The simple procedure starts by placing a drop of fluorescein in the eye of the cat. If the tear ducts are not blocked, the stain can be seen running down its nose in a few minutes. 

Otherwise, they indicate an underlying problem. This technique is often used to diagnose corneal ulcers and test the effectiveness of tear ducts.

Measuring Eye Pressure

High fluid content in the eyes causes Glaucoma. This is because the increased pressure in the eyes, which stems from watery eyes, can damage your cat’s optic nerve. A tonometry is used to measure the amount of pressure in the eye and determine if there is a buildup of tears in your cat's eye.

How to Treat Watery Eyes in Cats

Treatment involves a variety of ways depending on the cause of your cat’s watery eyes. Here are the procedures for the treatment of watery eyes in cats:

Antimicrobial Medication

When the cause of your cat’s watery eyes comes from bacterial and viral infections, medications such as topical antibiotics and antiviral eye drops are administered. These would inhibit the growth of these microbes and help your cat recover from the infection. 

An anti-inflammatory agent would also be added to the mix to reduce any swelling and discomfort. These medicines are readily available at our vet pharmacy.

Surgery

For more serious cases, surgery would be the answer. These are usually for cats with deformed eyelids and damaged tear ducts. Surgery could also be used in the event a piece of debris stuck in the eye is the cause of your cat’s watery eyes.

Flushing

Flushing your cat’s eyes out with saline by using a small tube can help clear the blocked duct. This can effectively clear a pathway for the tears which gradually solves the problem.

Allergen Management

The allergen your cat is exposed to in your home may cause watery eyes. Your veterinarian might require you to remove the harmful particles and objects present in your home in order to not worsen the situation. 

How to Prevent Watery Eyes in Cats

Preventing watery eyes in cats starts with your actions. Seek the aid of a veterinarian on how to properly create a safe place and living situation for your cat. While there isn’t a direct prevention technique for watery eyes in cats, the small things such as cleaning and grooming your cat can help by removing debris that could cause watery eyes. 

In addition to this, keeping your cat safe indoors hinders it from getting into fights with other cats, which might lead to eye scratching and other related injuries. Making a safe home for your cat is a good way to minimize the risk of getting watery eyes.

Conclusion

Your cat is your best friend and understanding the reasons why its eyes get watery can make a huge difference. While watery eyes don’t pose a significant threat at times, the situation can get dire when the condition worsens. 

Immediate treatment is always important in order to prevent any further complications from happening. Consulting your veterinarian can go a long way to make your cat’s life easier.