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My cat's eye is irritated. What are the causes and how can I help?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Female | spayed

My cats eye has looked pretty irritated since she woke up this morning I thought maybe my other cat scratched it but there is no scratch on the eye

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Jenny, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on November 22nd, 2017

Since she does not want to hold it open, it may be an abrasions on the cornea from a previous foreign body such as a hair or a small scratch that is not big or deep. It can be from allergies or a mild respiratory infection that is early and just starting. You can flush the eye with saline eye drops and apply a warm compress if she will let you. If this does not get better in 24 hours or you notice further respiratory signs then I would get her checked by a vet as soon as possible

4Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Leigh, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on February 24th, 2017
Without actually examining her eye, it is very difficult to know what is causing her problem. If your vets can't diagnose than she should be examined by a veterinary ophthalmologist to diagnose and determine if treatment is needed.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Ricardo Fernandez, DVM
Veterinarian, Veterinary Oncology Resident
Published on December 17th, 2018
Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be due to an eye injury or conditions such as a corneal laceration, corneal ulcer, conjunctivitis, dry eye (also known as KCS), among many other conditions. It is just not possible to know without being able to look at the eyes up close. I highly recommend that you have Genie evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Further therapy would be based on the findings. Good luck and best wishes!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Published on February 28th, 2017
Poor Munchkin! It's quite serious that she cannot open her eye all the way. Without seeing her in person, I can't rule out an injury to it or an eye infection, but I can say she needs to see a vet immediately. 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 Munchin into an ER vet or find a vet on call to see her now to have her eye examined and diagnosed so it can be treated.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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Related Questions

My cat's eye is red and irritated. What should I do & when to see vet?

I do not see any problems within the eye, but I would have to examine it closer to be sure. The redness could indicate conjunctivitis. Conjunctivitis can be caused by a few different infections, or dust and debris in the eye. Cats can also get red/squinty eyes when something scratches the surface of the eye. This appears to be rather mild, but it's difficult to tell without examining her. If the eye is not improving within the next day or two, then it would be best to have a vet examine her. For now, you can flush the eye 3-4 times a day with saline (can get this at the supermarket or pharmacy in the eye care section) to help clean and soothe it. Below is a link to a good video that demonstrates how to do this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDGzdUTUdNI I hope that helps and Tinkerbell gets better soon.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My cat has an irritated eye scratch. Should I see a vet or wait?

Keep an eye on it and if it does not look better by tomorrow, or if he starts to scratch at it or rub his face, then get him seen by your vet as soon as possible. The worry is that if he starts rubbing or scratching, that he'll injure the eye itself and that will require more intensive treatment than a simple scratch or mild eye infection.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My cat's eye is closed with mucus and she's sneezing. What should I do?

You could use a warm washcloth to get some of the mucous off of Cat's eye and hopefully allow it to open, but I wouldn't try too hard to open it. It is possible that she is holding it shut because it is painful as well. It sounds like she could have an upper respiratory infection, which is usually viral however if there is eye discharge she could have a secondary bacterial infection. I would recommend seeing a veterinarian so they can examine her eye and prescribe antibiotics or topical eye medication if necessary.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My cat's eye is closed and looks irritated. What's wrong with it?

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to see that Suga is having a right eye problem. Upper respiratory disease is very common in kittens and often times the eyes can be a target of infection for the various viruses and bacteria that are associated with feline URI's. I always stress the important of getting eye problems seen immediately and early since the eyes are very important sense organs and they can deteriorate rather quickly. Your vet can examine the eyes, evaluate for the presence of an upper respiratory infection and then advise tests to closer evaluate the eyes themselves. This includes staining of the eye to look for corneal damage (outer surface), tear production, and measuring the pressure inside the eye. Often times we just stain the eyes and want to see the integrity of the cornea. Once a diagnosis is made of corneal scratch/damage or not, treatment can be advised. We use many different approaches for this disease. Oral antibiotics, Eye drops/ointments, nasal drops, L-lysine as a supplement since it affects viral replication, antiviral medicines, probiotics to enhance the gut immunity, deworming to decrease added stress on the kitten, and vaccines to try to boost the immune response towards these viruses. So I would make an appointment and see your vet today. You and Suga will feel better.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

Why is my cat's eye closed after coming in from outside?

Hello. I would guess that Henry has a mild irritation or scratch to his cornea. It is mild now, but you should have this looked at tomorrow as it could get worse. Mild corneal irritations can heal very quickly with proper treatment, but can get bad fast if ignored. I hope you can have Henry examined soon & thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Cat's sore eye with inner eyelid stuck, not improving. What to do?

Hello, and thank you for your question. I'm sorry to hear that Mitzy is unwell. The most likely cause for her symptoms is an eye infection. If the eye hasn't improved and it has been several days since it started, you will need to take Mitzy to the vet, as she will require antibiotic eye drops. The vet will also want to perform a special test to check for a scratch on the eye, which would help determine the best type of eye drops to use. In the meantime, continue to use warm compresses on the eye to help provide relief and clear away mucus. I would also keep an e-collar (cone) on her at all times to prevent her from scratching and further damaging the eye. If further injury does occur, the eye could get much worse very quickly. I hope this helps, and that Mitzy gets the help she needs soon!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

Can I use saline or eye drops for my cat's irritated eye discharge?

Yes, you can try just plain saline. Flush gently for a few seconds. But if you don't see any improvement within 24 hours, I would have Onyx checked out by a vet. There could be a small scratch or ulcer causing the discharge to build up, or even the start of an upper respiratory tract infection. Here are some links you may find helpful: https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-things-you-should-know-about-feline-respiratory-infections/ https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951489

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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