Why is my cat's third eyelid showing? Is it allergies or serious?
If her third eyelid is up, it could be something more concerning such as a scratch on her cornea. If she is pawing at her eye, please put an e-collar on her to prevent her from causing significant damage to the eye but rubbing it. You can use an eye wash to rinse the eye (here is a great one for pets https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/vetericyn-plus-eye-wash-for-dogs. If its just allergies, this will usually help. Also, Benadryl can be safely given to cats and may help if its an allergy, however most cats HATE the taste, so giving it can be a challenge. Here is an article including dosing information: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/vetericyn-plus-eye-wash-for-dogs
If her eye is still bothering her, and/or if the 3rd eyelid is up, take her in to your vet. Thanks for asking PetCoach!
Updated on September 23rd, 2025