My cat has gunk in his eye. What should I do and when to see a vet?

You could try an over the counter GenTeal eye drops to keep his eyes well lubricated. If the condition continues, he starts squinting, or his eyes look red then he needs to be examined by a vet to determine what treatment is needed.

Oreo seems to have an infection. We cannot rule out a corneal ulcer just by looking at the picture. Cats often have upper respiratory tract infection, and develop conjunctivitis and I discharge because of it. Take Oreo to your veterinarian for a detailed exam that possibly will include staining the cornea to rule out ulcers. I forsee you will have to give eye meds at least twice a day or more depending on the physical findings. You can use a clean washcloth wet with lukewarm water and gently wash away the eye discharge for now. Good luck and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor baby Panther! Panther likely has a viral infection or upper respiratory infection and now a secondary bacterial infection in his eyes. The only thing I can tell you to do at home is to gently warm compress his eyes. He sadly needs to see a Vet for antibiotic ointment in the eye. Due to the sensitivity of the eye, a special ointment or drop that is safe for the eye needs to be used. Cats are especially sensitive to certain eye medications. It shouldn't be too expensive to have him seen by a Vet. Also a lot of SPCAs have a low cost Veterinary clinic. I wish you the best and a speedy recovery for Panther!

Clear eye discharge is not uncommon. I would not be worried about this unless the discharge turns yellow or green which would indicate an infection. You can use saline solution or a commercial eye wash to rinse the eyes out daily if he will let you. Otherwise just wiping the discharge away when you see it is fine. I would use a cotton ball soaked in warm water to wipe the eyes and not a Q-tip. They also have pre-made eye wipes for cats if you would rather use that. ( https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/well-and-good-cat-eye-wipes ) ( https://www.petco.com/category/cat/cat-health-and-wellness/cat-ear-and-eye-care ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.

I would have Junor seen by a vet. This discharge can be indicative of an eye infection, and that requires an antibiotic eye ointment to treat. The eye is such a delicate and important structure that any problem with it should be considered an emergency. That's because leaving it untreated can lead to vision loss. I would take Junor into a vet right away to have his eyes examined and treated.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If it has been going on that long I would seek medical attention. There may be an ulcer or a scratch on the cornea (which you may not be able to see) that needs to be addressed. Kisses to Fuego!

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. From the pictures you posted it does not look that there is anything very serious going on with her left eye. Squinting the eye could be result of trauma (usually scratch from another cat) or infection. Please, keep wiping the eye and giving her soothing eye drops. If the eye is not back to normal after 5-6 days, you will have to try and get her seen by a vet.