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Why is my cat's eye red and she keeps rubbing it? Should I worry?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Female | spayed | 2 years and 3 months old | 7 lbs

My cat suddenly had a red and bothersome eye. She kept licking her paw and rubbing her eye so it really seems to bother her. I'm worried she got something in it, we had spicy chilis for dinner but no one touched her after we ate! It's tough to get a pic because she had her eyes closed but it's her left eye (on the right in the photo, to be clear).

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Destini R. Holloway, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on July 28th, 2017

Poor girl. If she is indeed closing the eye and seems bothered by it, there is a good chance she has a scratch or ulcer on the the from some unknown trauma she may have caused herself. She will need prescription antibiotics from your vet to get this to heal properly. I would recommend taking her in soon to get this treated before it gets any worse. Best wishes with Millie and I hope she feels better soon. Take care.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Jenny, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on January 1st, 2018
The third eye lid is exposed in the photos which can be a sign of pain and discomfort. The upper eyelid has some hair missing and seems red. She may have been bitten or have gotten something in her eye to irritate that area and rubbed the hair off the eyelid. She does need to see a vet to make sure there is no trauma or damage to the eye but until then you can apply a warm compress and flush her eye with saline eye drops in case something is in there
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Elizabeth
Veterinarian
Published on April 2nd, 2020
Yes, Callie has an eye infection and she needs to be examined by the veterinarian. The squinting and rubbing means Callie may be in pain and that she could have a scratch on the cornea. The rubbing can also make the eye worse. She needs to wear an elizabethan collar at all times and try to have her examined today if possible. I hope this helps.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Published on April 26th, 2020
Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Maya. Poor girl. This looks like a large of discharge, and I suspect she has an eye infection. Any eye problem needs to be checked out by a vet immediately because leaving it untreated can lead to vision loss. I'd have her seen by a vet now. I hope this helps!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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Related Questions

My cat's eye is squinting after a fight. Should I take her to the vet?

I'm so sorry that Myrtle has been injured. Injuries to the cornea (the clear outer portion of the eye) are very painful, so that is likely why Myrtle is keeping her eye closed. Hopefully Myrtle just has a small scratch that will heal well, but I would strongly recommend having it evaluated ASAP to get her on antibiotics if there is a scratch. Unfortunately, a cat scratch to the eye can be very serious. I have included a link to more information below. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=554 I hope that was helpful! Thanks for using PetCoach.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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Pink, watery cat eye and hiding: Is it time for a vet visit?

I would recommend taking her to the vet today. It could be an infection, conjunctivitis, or a corneal ulcer or abrasion. The vet will do a thorough exam and use a special stain to see if there is an ulcer. Then they will prescribe appropriate medications. Try to keep her from rubbing the eye any more, as this could cause trauma to the eyeball.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My cat's eye is red and swollen, and she can't open it. What's wrong?

Hello, sorry to hear about Milkshake. Most common causes of a red eye with discharge may include a flare up of an upper respiratory tract infection such as herpes or a superficial corneal ulcer. If you note any sneezing or nasal discharge then he is most likely to have an upper respiratory tract infection. Milkshake should be evaluated by his veterinarian as soon as possible in case he does have a corneal ulcer or an upper respiratory tract infection. Other less likely causes include a superficial eye infection, glaucoma, or uveitis. Hope this helps and best of luck.

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My cat's eye is red and she's licking lips. Is it an emergency?

Cats commonly get an irritated eye due to trauma from a cat fight, or from something else scratching the eye. Things, like grass or fabric, can also get stuck under the eyelids and cause irritation. Infection or increased pressure are always possible though. It's difficult to know how serious this is without evaluating her, but it doesn't appear to be an emergency at this time. The mucous in the eye and licking lips just tells me that the eye is producing more discharge than normal - suspect that the licking is due to increased nasolacrimal duct drainage. For now, you can flush the eye with normal saline. Saline flush can be bought at the pharmacy, or supermarket in the eye care section. Flush the eye 3-4 times daily and gently wipe away the discharge with a warm/moist cotton or cloth. Below is a link to a good video that demonstrates how to flush the eye. Cat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDGzdUTUdNI If the eye is not better within 24 hours, then it's best to have a vet evaluate it, so they can determine the severity and prescribe more specific treatment. I hope that helps and Lita gets better soon.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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Why is my cat's eye red, squinting, and she's biting her paw?

It is very important that Frankie be seen by a vet for proper diagnosis and treatment of her eye to determine if this is an infection, if it is due to allergies or trauma, if it is a corneal ulcer( a scratch on the eye), or another condition that may need to be treated in a completely different manner. Squinting can indicate pain, so you are correct that something is wrong with her eye. Over-the-counter medications are not recommended for use in treatment without a vet visit, as some types of eye ointments and drops contain steroids that can severely damage an eye that has sustained a corneal ulcer or trauma. In addition, cats can have allergic reactions to certain human eye medications. Her vet will need to evaluate her eye, and a Fluorescein stain to check for scratches, tonometry to test the eye pressures, and a Schirmer tear test to evaluate tear production may be needed, based on the vet’s ophthalmic exam findings.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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

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

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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My indoor cat has a red irritated spot above her eye. Should I worry?

It doesn't look too bad in the picture. Poppy may have injured herself by rubbing her face against something in the home. I would keep an eye on it for now. if it gets bigger or appears infected (redness, swelling, warm to the touch, pus), then have her seen by a vet. I hope this helps!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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