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My cat's eye is scratched, glossy, and squinting. Will he go blind?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Male | neutered

So my cat was scratched in the eye by my kittens and now he has a glossy reflective eye and he's squinting. Could he go blind? He doesn't have dischar

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on June 22nd, 2016

Your vet will need to take a look at your cat's eye to see if the scratch perforated the cornea and involved other structures of the eye. Your vet should also see it to treat it because not treating it can lead to vision loss depending on the severity of the injury. The course of treatment will depend on the severity of the injury and the part of the eye that was injured. If the wound is non-perforating and has no wound edge or opening, an Elizabethan collar will be used to prevent your cat from scratching at its eye, along with antibiotic or atropine eye solutions. Non-perforating wounds that have a mild break in the tissue, or a pinpoint wound perforation, may be treated with a soft contact lens, an Elizabethan collar, and antibiotic or atropine solutions. If the scratch goes deep into the eye and involves other structures in the eye, surgical repair will likely be needed. Your vet is the best person to determine what course of treatment is best.

4Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Leigh, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on July 21st, 2021
If the ointment is not helping then he needs to be examined by your vet to determine the proper treatment. Your vet can do a thorough exam exam and some diagnostic testing ,if needed, to determine the cause of his problem and then prescribe the appropriate medications.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Jessica Desrosiers
Veterinary Technician
Published on January 3rd, 2022
Cat bites and scratches can get easily infected and spread other illnesses due to bacteria present. If it's near Fluffy's eye and he is already closing it/unable to keep it open, I would definitely get him into a vet as soon as you are able to have it cleaned up and pain or antibiotic medication given.

Until you can get into your vet, it is best to try and clean any fur around the wounds, clean the wounds, and keep Fluffy (or any other cats) from licking or pawing at them with an Elizabethan (cone) collar. This will help reduce irritation until you can get into your vet.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Published on March 4th, 2017
Poor Gohan! He does need to see a vet as soon as possible for this. The problem with a scratch to the eye is that it can become infected, and then lead to an ulcer and possible vision loss. The eye is such a delicate and important structure that any problem with it should be considered an emergency. It would be best to have Gohan seen by an ER vet or a vet on call, but if he absolutely cannot, I would put an Ecollar on him to keep him from rubbing his eye as he can do more damage to it. You can make one at home or get one from a pet store. You can flush his eye with sterile saline but I would not use any human eye medications on them because they aren't safe to use on dogs.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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