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My cat's eye is watering, but she's fine. Should I wait to see a vet?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 12 years and 8 months old | 13 lbs

One of my cats eyes started watering a day and a half ago. She shows no symptoms of anything else. She is eating, playing and acting normal. She is indoor only (we do have another younger cat as well). Can I monitor it for a few days before bringing her to the vets or should we bring her in right away? Is there anything I can try at home like warm, wet clothes?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Daniel Fonza, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on November 16th, 2017

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. I would say that based on the picture and your description, as long as the eye does not look reddened or inflamed and the discharge is not green or yellow then I would say waiting 2 or 3 days should be fine. If at the end of the two to three day time frame the discharge is still there and is not any better or is worse, then I would schedule an appointment with a veterinarian to have this looked at. The eye discharge could be from allergies, infection or trauma. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please feel free to contact me with any other questions you may have and I would be more than happy to answer any you may have.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Kevin Sanada, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on March 23rd, 2018
This often happens with conjunctivitis (aka pink eye), but can happen if the outside of the eye gets scratched or there is a problem within the eye. Conjunctivitis can be caused by a few different infections, but is commonly caused by a virus that most cats harbor and comes out during times of stress. These infections can become complicated with bacterial infections though and cause more problems. If the eyes appear worse and/or have a lot of yellow/green discharge, then I would recommend taking her to the vet for an evaluation. They will be able to better inspect the eye and provide the most appropriate treatment.

For now, you can flush the eye 3-4 times a day with saline (can get this at the pharmacy or supermarket in the eye care section) to help clean and soothe it. Below is a link to a good video that demonstrates how to do this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDGzdUTUdNI

I hope that helps and Cap gets better soon.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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Related Questions

My cat's eye discharge is drying. Should I still take him to the vet?

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. Many times cats develop herpes virus infections. Most of the time the infection clears on its own. Secondary bacterial infection can occur, in which case an antibiotic is beneficial. If it is just viral, we have to rely on the body to fight the infection. If the eye is improving, the discharge will likely clear up. If it does not resolve 100% or worsens, I would have a vet examine midnight. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns. I am also available via consultation if needed.

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My cat has goopy eye discharge. When should I worry and see a vet?

I'm sorry the images you posted did not attach. You may want to try to upload them from a computer rather than a phone to see if that works. You may be seeing some normal discharge however this could also be a sign of allergies or infection. If your cat is not squinting the eye, pawing at it, or having excessive tearing you may just be seeing normal discharge. Without a picture it's hard to say for sure, so it's often best to err on the side of caution and have your cat examined by a veterinarian as eye issues can escalate quickly. Please try your picture again so that we can provide more information and recommendations. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

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My cat's eye waters frequently with no irritation. Vet visit needed?

It’s always best to have the eye checked but if he’s not squinting, no redness or discomfort, no green or yellow discharge then you should be ok to monitor the eye at home. Some eyes water when the tear ducts are plugged or from mild allergies. Do take him in if this continues or worsens. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Fish.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

Why is my cat's eye watering for days with no other symptoms?

Her duct that draining the eye could be clogged. I would put a warm compress on inner part of the eye near the nose and gently massage. You could also try Benadryl twice a day to see if there is an allergy component. If this doesn’t help, I would talk to your vet about y’all trying an antibiotics eye drop with or without a steroid to see if that helps it. I hope this helps! https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/cat/benadryl/

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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My cat has clear, watery eye discharge, but seems fine. What is it?

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.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

Wet white spot in cat's eye, no discomfort. Should I be concerned?

Gently try to wipe the eye to see if that is just some discharge. If it does not come out, it may be a mass and she should see her veterinarian. If it is discharge, as long as she seems normal, you may monitor her for a few days to see if this is a one time thing. If it progresses or worsens, have her seen by her veterinarian. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

Why is my cat's eye watery with white discharge and a glazed appearance?

Hi, and thanks for your question. That is likely to be due to a mild to moderate conjunctivitis, probably secondary to a trauma or infection. A check up would be needed as appropriate treatment would include antibiotics and anti-inflammatory eye drops. Corneal injuries must be ruled out as well. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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