How to Treat Eye Infections in Cats

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This article was co-written by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott is a veterinarian with over thirty years of experience. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 and worked as a veterinary surgeon for 7 years. Then, Dr. Elliott worked as a veterinarian in a clinic for over a decade.

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Eye health is an important part of a cat’s overall health, and cat owners should always pay attention. An important factor in helping you prevent your cat from experiencing persistent eye pain is knowing what to look for and what to do when an eye infection is suspected. Early detection will help you decide whether to treat your cat at home or take your cat to the vet. If you are concerned, you should consult a professional, as some serious problems can cause your cat to lose vision or damage her eyes.

Table of Contents

Check for an infection in your cat’s eyes

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Check for symptoms of an eye infection. Look for signs that your cat has an eye problem. Symptoms may include one or a combination of the following: ^{[1] X Research Source BSAVA Manual of Small Animal Ophthalmpogy. Petersen-Jones & Crispin. BSAVA publications.}

Blinking or closing eyes: This is not normal and is a sign that your cat has eye pain or discomfort. This may be the result of an infection caused by trauma (a scratch on the eye), glaucoma, a foreign body under the eyelid, or inflammation of the eye. ^{[2] X Research Source BSAVA Manual of Small Animal Ophthalmpogy. Petersen-Jones & Crispin. BSAVA publications.}
Swollen eyelids: Puffy eyelids are a clear sign that something is wrong – usually injury, infection or allergies.
Eye discharge: All cats have discharge in the inner corners of their eyes, especially when they’ve just woken up and haven’t washed their face. The discharge in a cat’s eye will normally be clear or rusty in color. In fact, when exposed to air, the clear gel will dry out and turn rusty – this is normal. If the discharge from the cat’s eyes is yellow or green, it is a sign of an infection.
Inflammation of the whites of the eye: The white of the eye should be the color as its name suggests – white. Pink or zigzag blood on the whites of the eyes is unusual and could be a sign of an allergy, infection, or cataracts (increased pressure in the eye).
Eyes lose their shine: The healthy eye surface is highly reflective, and when you look closely, the reflected rays are smooth and unbroken. If you look into a cat’s eye and it looks dull, without reflections, or broken and jagged, this is not normal. This could be a sign of dry eyes (not enough tears) or an ulceration of the surface of the eye. ^{[3] X Research Source BSAVA Manual of Small Animal Ophthalmpogy. Petersen-Jones & Crispin. BSAVA publications.}

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Check your cat’s eyes under bright light. When you notice a problem, check your cat’s eyes under bright light. Find out which eye of the cat is abnormal by comparing it with the other eye and remember which eye. Look closely at the affected eye and memorize details such as discharge color, inflammation of the whites of the eye, ulcers, etc. ^{[4] X Source of Study}

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Consider taking your cat to the vet. Some infections need to be treated by a veterinarian instead of being treated at home. If you see any of the following signs, take your cat to a veterinarian for a checkup: ^{[5] X Research Source BSAVA Manual of Small Animal Ophthalmpogy. Petersen-Jones & Crispin. BSAVA publications.}

Visible discomfort (eyes closed)
Yellow or green eye discharge
Blurred eye surface
The blood vessels on the surface of the eye dilate

Infected eye care at home

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Wipe the discharge from the eyes. If your cat has tears or discharge, use a damp cotton ball to clean the cat’s discharge. Wipe as often as needed, in some cases requiring cleaning every hour.

Pat dry your eyes after wiping.
Replace the cotton pad when it is dirty, and remember to wipe each eye with a separate cotton pad.

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Take great care when caring for kittens’ eyes. It is not uncommon for kittens with an eye infection to not be able to open their eyelids because eye discharge causes the eyelids to stick. Cleaning your cat’s eyes is very important because an infection can occur under the eyelids and cause blindness. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

If the cat’s eyelids are sticky with glue, dip a cotton ball in cooled boiling water and wipe from the inner corner to the outer corner of the eye, while gently pressing the upper eyelids with the thumb and index finger of the other hand. and the bottom of the cat to keep the eyes open. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Medical treatment

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Vaccinate your cat in full dose. You may be surprised to learn that vaccinations can prevent eye infections. Flu and chlamydia in cats are two common causes of eye infections, and vaccination can prevent them. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

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Take your cat to the vet for evaluation and treatment. Eye infections are usually caused by bacteria or viruses. Viral infections are self-limiting, and the cat’s immune system will fight off the infection. Bacterial infections are treated with topical antibiotics or eye drops.

Viruses that cause eye problems include herpesvirus and calicivirus. Some veterinarians will prescribe antibiotics even if a viral infection is suspected, as these infections can combine with complex bacteria to cause secondary infections. ^{[9] X Research Source BSAVA Manual of Small Animal Ophthalmpogy. Petersen-Jones & Crispin. BSAVA publications.}
Bacteria that can colonize the eye and cause infection include Staphylococci, E.cpi, Proteus, and Pseudomonas. It is extremely important that you always wash your hands thoroughly after touching a cat with a contaminated eye, as these infections can be spread.

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Take medication as directed. Depending on the formulation, antibiotics are applied in doses twice daily to once every hour. Oral antibiotics are not usually used to treat eye infections unless ointments cannot be used due to the cat’s temperament.

The drug is usually taken for a minimum of 5 days and should not be stopped before the end of the course to avoid the risk of antibiotic resistance. ^{[10] X Research Source BSAVA Manual of Small Animal Ophthalmpogy. Petersen-Jones & Crispin. BSAVA publications.}

Steps

Check for an infection in your cat’s eyes

Infected eye care at home

Medical treatment

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