My cat has dry sleep in her eye. Is this normal or a concern?

Simba's eyes do not look red and swollen in the picture, and the discharge may just be sleep. Humans get it too when they wake up. I'd keep an eye on him for now. If his eyes starts discharging a lot, or it becomes red or swollen, have him seen by a vet. I hope this helps!

fbIf you notice squinting, rubbing at the eye, increased discharge, redness, decreased vision, or if the eye appears to be protruding, please get Rose to a vet right away. Do not apply anything to the eye without checking with your vet first. You can clean underneath the eye with a cloth dipped in clean warm water twice a day to help prevent buildup.

Cats can have the morning sleep in their eyes just like us. If the squinting is not persistent throughout the day, it should be fine. If it occurs throughout the day, then she should get checked out by the vet.

Gently try to wipe the eye to see if that is just some discharge. If it does not come out, it may be a mass and she should see her veterinarian. If it is discharge, as long as she seems normal, you may monitor her for a few days to see if this is a one time thing. If it progresses or worsens, have her seen by her veterinarian. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Nala. She appears to be squinting a bit in your picture. This can mean that her eyes are painful. If the other cats she is playing with are experiencing similar signs, I suspect there is an infectious cause. I would recommend that she sees her veterinarian. She may require an antibiotic eye ointment. In the meantime, do not let her paws at her eyes as this can irritate them further. I hope this information helps!

As long as it is black or clear and not green or yellow, this is considered to be a normal weepy eye. This can be caused by a slight increase in tear production and should be wiped clean with a warm wet cloth daily or as needed to prevent further irritation of the skin due to build up. Thanks for visiting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and take care of your cat Annie moving forward.

White discharge can be a sign of dry eye, especially if it is continuous. However, dry eye is not very common in cats. If the eyes continue to have this discharge as well as redness of the sclera (white part of the eye), then its best to have her checked by your vet. If the discharge resolves, then it is likely just a weepy eye and nothing to worry about. Best of luck with your pet Lucy moving forward. Take care!