My cat's eye has a membrane after an accident. Is it normal?

Hello there! Great question! From your picture it appears as though the grey area you are seeing is a portion of what is called the nictitans membrane, or more commonly the third eye lid. It allows the animal to moisten the eye, while still maintains vision. This is normal anatomy that many animals have them, cats are special in the sense that they, unlike dogs, actually can control their third eye lid. You may notice that it becomes more visible when Kite is resting or falling asleep. I hope this answers your question. Kite is very handsome!

It sounds like you may be describing an elevated third eyelid - it looks like a thin membrane, that covers part of the eye near the inner corner. This is often associated with an eye infection or an injury to the cornea (such as a scratch or ulcer), but can also be seen with other types of illnesses. I would recommend taking her to the vet for an eye exam tomorrow, if possible.

What you are seeing on Jax is his third eyelid (known as the nicitating membrane) sticking out over the rest of his eyeball. I can not say for sure why it has prolapsed. This can happen due to an injury or an infectious process. The nicitating membrane has several important responsibilities, so making sure that it is still fully functional is important. While it is not an emergency, if the membrane does not return to its normal location by tomorrow I would consider bringing Jax in for an appointment. In the mean time, I would recommend obtaining some artificial tears from the drug store and keeping the eye nice and lubricated. Do this every 4 to 6 hours in case there is a lack of tear production.

What you are seeing in the inside corner of Nala's eye is a normal structure called the third eyelid (or nictating membrane). However, it is not normally up as much as Nala's are in the picture. There are a few possibilities of why a third eyelid will be up more than normal. Some drugs will make them go up more, tapeworms (https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951442) can sometimes make them go up in cats, and any irritation of the eye can make them go up. Since it appears to be getting worse, I would recommend having your veterinarian examine her to see if they can find a cause. If Nala is squinting or rubbing at her eyes, she should see a veterinarian ASAP. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and answered your question. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Winston is a cutie and I am not concerned about this. I actually see this in many relaxed cats. Unless the watering is lasting more than a day, there is full-on squinting or rapid blinking, redness, cloudiness, or other worrisome signs, I am inclined to ignore it. If you have any concerns, definitely see your vet to make sure everything looks normal. Best of luck to you and Winston!

Cats with really painful eyes (such as from a scratch to the cornea or something stuck in the eyelids) will elevate their third eyelids to help protect the eye. Though some types of neck injuries can damage a nerve to works in the face and can also cause this to happen. Since I am concerned that this beautiful kitty is in pain, I would recommend taking her to the emergency vet. After the examination, discuss financial constraints with the vet to determine what can be done to alleviate pain but still fit within the budget you have set. Many times we are able to come up with plans B and C to do what we can to help the pet!

What you are seeing is Zoe's third eyelid, which is a normal part of a cat's anatomy. What isn't normal, however, is it being out while her eye is open. Normally it comes out when her eye is closed, and if it's out while her eye is open, that signals a medical problem such as an eye infection. An eye infection would also keep her from opening her eye as normal. 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 have Zoe seen by a vet as soon as possible to have her eye examined and treated.