Why are my stray cat's eyes barely open? Is it mange or an illness?

It does look like Mu has mange and even possibly a severe ringworm fungal skin infection as well. The eyes being semi-closed may be due to the mange/ringworm infection of the eyelids causing swelling/discomfort or he may also have an eye infection/conjunctivitis as well. Topical monthly flea products for cats called Revolution or Paradyne are often effective against sarcoptic mange and would be easy enough to apply to Mu. Ringworm lesions are usually circular areas of hairloss but can progress to covering large stretches of skin and look similar to how Mu looks in the pictures. Both diseases can be transmissible to humans and Mu is likely not rabies vaccinated so I would recommend avoiding handling/touching him without heavy gloves. If you are able to bring him to a local veterinarian or shelter, they may be able to provide Revolution, vaccinate him against rabies, provide a topical ophthalmic antibiotic ointment if indicated and look more closely in his mouth, as well as perform diagnostics to rule out a severe ringworm infection. Good luck!

Poor Satin. : ( Closing of the eyes along with mucous discharge are signs of an eye infection. Eye infections in cats can be caused by an underlying viral infection or from some sort of corneal trauma (ulcer, scratch). Satin needs prescription eye antibiotic ointment to clear this up. Your vet can do a quick eye stain to diagnose the underlying problem and get him the necessary medication he needs, so schedule an appt with your vet within the next 24 hrs to get this taken care of quickly before the eye worsens. I hope your fur baby gets better soon!

The symptoms you have described do not fit with a fungal infection like ringworm. The skin appears unkempt all over. Jessy may have light sensitivity, which can happen with a number of diseases, such as tick-borne disease, autoimmune diseases, kidney disease, etc. I am so sorry, but without being able to examine Jessy and run blood work, I am not sure how to help you. Some of these diseases benefit from steroids, but in some cases, steroids could make things worse. He really needs to be evaluated by a vet.

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.

This sign is compatible with discomfort and possibly a corneal lesion. An immediate check up is needed to confirm this clinical suspicion and have her treated as soon as possible. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation (where you can post pictures ) if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Hi Leon and thanks for posting. I am sorry to see Soooze is having an issue with her eye. When the eye is squinted like that, it may be due to an eye infection, sratch, abrasion, or trama in or around the eye or on the eye itself. A veterinarian will be able to do an eye exam to determine the cause fo the squinting and place Soooze on the appropriate medication if indicated. Scratches to the eye or cornea of the eye can be very painful and will require medication to help treat. Please take Soooze in to see her veterinarian soon!

Your kitty likely is suffering from an upper respiratory infection and should be seen by a vet for an exam and deworming. It will likely need prescription antibiotics. In the meantime (until you can take her to a vet) you can tak a cloth with warm water an soak the eyes. This should help with opening them. You can then gently wipe off the purulent discharge.