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My cat has watery eyes and crusting. Is this normal or a vet concern?
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Male | neutered | 3 years and 7 months old | 10.5 lbs
Hi, my cat Mango is a 3 year old neutered male who has had excessively watery eyes on/off (around once every 2-4 weeks). For example, a month ago we saw “tears” from his eyes while he was sleeping. This week he had watery eyes that’s crusting a little on his eye corners. The discharge is thin and transparent, his eyes themselves don’t look any different, and he’s eating and behaving normally. Do I need to take him for a checkup or could this be normal, and if the latter when should I be worried?
3 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Answered By Jessica Desrosiers
Veterinary Technician
Published on February 4th, 2024
If the watery discharge is clear, it could be eye irritation from something such as a dust allergy or other environmental allergens. Keeping Mango in a well-ventilated room away from potential allergens may help the discharge clear up, as well as keeping his eyes clean and dry. Particles in the eye such as dust or an irritant if you've been cleaning or burning candles/aromatherapy items may also cause eye discharge like this, and Mango should be removed from any rooms they're in use in.
If the discharge becomes cloudy, green, or yellow, this could indicate something more serious such as an infection of the eyes, a respiratory virus, or a chronic health condition such as herpesvirus that may be flaring. You may notice other signs and symptoms such as lethargy, fever, or loss of appetite.
it's a good idea to schedule a vet visit with any new symptom, even if it's only for peace of mind. Keeping an eye on Mango and watching for any other symptoms or changes to the discharge can also help you and your vet figure out if the cause is serious.
2Pet Parents found this answer helpfulRelated Answers from Veterinarians
Answered By Dr. Elizabeth
Veterinarian
Published on April 25th, 2019
Her right eye looks infected. I recommend to have her examined to try to prevent it from getting worse and to quickly start the healing process. Make sure she is not rubbing the eye as this can make it worse. An elizabethan collar can prevent this. I hope she starts feeling better quickly and please feel free to post any additional questions.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Ricardo Fernandez, DVM
Veterinarian, Veterinary Oncology Resident
Published on August 12th, 2017
This could be a sign of just some mild irritation. This can be secondary to a foreign object or even allergies. It may be transient as in most cases the body's defenses will take care of mild irritants. I think it would be ok to wait a bit as long as you monitor Mango closely. However, if you notice that the discharge does not go away in the next few days or it becomes yellowish/greenish, I recommend that you have him evaluated by your veterinarian. They would be able to look at the eye closely and recommend therapy based on the findings. Good luck with your pup!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful