My cat's eye is irritated. Should I use human eye drops or see a vet?

This really depends on the underlying issue with the eye and what kind of eye drops you have. There are many reasons for an inflamed eye in a cat and without doing a physical examination it's impossible to know what is going on. I'd recommend you see a veterinarian right away as eye issues can escalate quickly. Your veterinarian can help decide if the eye drops you have will be helpful or if Ray needs a different type of drop. Good luck and I hope Ray is feeling better soon!

Unfortunately, a tea bag will not cure Uno's eye infection, and I would not recommend using human eye drops on it. That's because a cat's eye reacts differently to human eye medications than a human's eye, and you can accidentally do harm to his eye with this. The eye is such an important and delicate structure that any problem with it is considered an emergency. That's because leaving it untreated can lead to vision loss. I would take Uno into a vet immediately to have his eye examined and treated.

Eye lubricant helps only if your cat has dry eye (extremely rare) but if he has conjunctivitis, a little foreign body stuck under his eyelid, a corneal injury or ulcer it isn't indicated. If your cat keep the eye close or squint or has an eye discharge, I recommend to have him checked by your vet that will perform a full ophthalmologic examination. Please post again on the forum if you would like to discuss it further. I hope my answer was helpful.

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.

You will have to use your best judgement on if Binx needs to see the vet tonight or if it can wait, since I am not able to evaluate the eye. If he has chronic eye infections, they may be viral, and the antibiotics may or may not be needed. Helping him keep it clean by using a warm wet washcloth until he sees the vet.

It is never recommended to medicate a pet without the advice of your veterinarian. A physical exam is strongly recommended to confirm infection so the appropriate antibiotic can be used. Inappropriate antibiotic use can lead to resistant bacteria and may complicate any underlying conditions. If you choose to use this medication, chloramphenicol can cause serious blood abnormalities, thus should be handled with caution.

Poor guy. Since the 1 eye is draining and it also looks irritated, he likely has a corneal scratch or ulcer. He also could have a bout of conjunctivitis which can be allergy related, but that typically affects both eyes and not just one. I am not sure what kind of eye drops you are using; however, most antibiotic eye ointment takes 3-4 days to show improvement. Also you should do the full course of treatment which is 7 consecutive days. If you do not have enough medication, then Chico needs to see your vet for a refill. Also I would recommend checking the expiration date on the medication to make sure it isn't expired! I hope that Chico's eye resolves soon. If he is not improved after the 3-4 day time period or if his eye seems to be getting worse or if you need new medication, then its best to take him in to your vet for further treatment. Best of luck to you both and take care!