My cat has brown eye discharge for years. Can I treat it at home?
One possibility is that the tears are not draining properly. If the eye is small, then this would definitely explain why it's not draining properly and is ending up on her face. They can also get blocked tear ducts that will cause a similar problem. If the eye and conjunctiva do not appear red, then I would not be worried about infection or other inflammation causing the discharge, but I'd have to examine her to be sure.
Unfortunately, what you are describing is not specific to any one condition, so I am not able to narrow-down the causes and provide advice about treating it. I can say that if it is a blocked tear duct, or other drainage problem, then it would require veterinary intervention. It is best to have a veterinarian examine her to get a specific diagnosis. I'm sure that a great amount of information can be obtained from just an exam, or some minimal testing.
I hope that helps and all is well with Ellie.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025