My cat has a recurring runny eye but seems fine. What should I do?

This actually sounds more like a viral upper respiratory infection. Herpesvirus and calicivirus are very common in cats and many cats are exposed as kittens then continue to have mild outbreaks throughout their lives, particularly during times of stress. Symptoms include watery or red eyes with clear discharge, squinting, sneezing and clear nasal discharge. If this is new for Cass I'd recommend having your veterinarian take a look at her to see what they think. I would not recommend using any eye washes or giving antihistamines - this would be unlikely to help and could make the symptoms worse.

Clarise’s eye discharge may be due to a viral infection, a problem with the drainage of the lacrimal duct or allergies. Infections are the most common cause and I would recommend to have her seen by her veterinarian as medication may be indicated. The doctor may use a special dye to stain the corneas and look for any ulcers as some viruses will cause this. If the doctor is not suspicious of an infection, she will recommend other tests or treatments. I recommend to get an appoint quickly as things can get worse. In the mean time, you can give her 250mg of Lysine twice daily. This supplement will help viral infections. You can often find this in pet stores. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello. It is possible that Stella has a mild, chronic upper respiratory infection caused by a common feline herpes virus. You can try giving her a supplement containing lysine ( all major retailors will have this ), or you can discuss this with your veterinarian to see if a round of anti-viral medications will benefit Stella. This is not life-threatening & certainly something that she can live with. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello, and thank you for your question! Seraphina is a gorgeous kitty. The eye discharge may be due to a mild herpes virus infection, blocked tear ducts, or environmental allergies. To rule out a herpes infection, you can try giving her a lysine supplement, which will help to strengthen her immune system and reduce the clinical signs of herpes such as runny eyes and sneezing: If this does not help after a few weeks, I would recommend visiting your veterinarian. They can confirm whether or not Seraphina has an eye infection, and discuss antihistamine options to treat environmental allergies, or recommend flushing the tear ducts under sedation. In the meantime, try to keep the eye area free of discharge by cleaning out the discharge daily with a warm soft cloth. I hope this helps, and that your little girl improves soon!

A clear discharge can be caused by some irritation such as dust or excessive draft. This would not be concerning and would pass within a few hours. Sometimes cats have an obstructed tear duct and then this could also cause a transparent watery discharge. Another cause would be a viral respiratory infection. In that case however , both eyes would be affected. Monitor the discharge and if it turns yellow or green or milky she will need to be seen by a vet for a bacterial respiratory infection.

It could be that your cat is suffering from chlamydia, which manifests in cats as weepy eyes. Don't work, it cannot be transmitted to you! Doxycycline treats weepy eyes in cats with chlamydia, and I would speak to your vet to see if that helps with his eye discharge. It's not sexually transmitted as in humans, mother cats can give it to their kittens, and it's transmitted via the air in close cat quarters or via bedding and the feeding area. You can also try giving him an on an L-lysine supplement - this is an amino acid that has been shown to help the immune system fight off respiratory infections more effectively. Enisyl and Viralys are both good brands, and can be purchased over the counter without a prescription - just follow the dosing instructions on the label based on your cat's weight.

It could be minor infection (bacterial or viral), foreign body, stray eye lash or even an obstructed tear duct. Without a physical exam, it is difficult to determine definitively what the underlying cause may be. If the discharge persists, consider an exam with your veterinarian. If Ruth is rubbing ornpawing at the eye, place an e-collar (cone) on her until she sees the doctor.