My cat's eyes have yellow discharge and are hard to open. Why?

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!

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!

Hello. This could be any number of things such as a flare up of a herpes virus very common in cats, or he has as infection, possibly from a small scratch on his cornea, or even a bit on conjunctivitis. Wil should see his veterinarian to make sure there is nothing more serious with the eye, & usually, with the proper treatments & medications, eyes clear up very nicely. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

This is likely to be a due to a viral and bacterial infection of the eye, which would require immediate check up as antibiotics are immediately needed. These type of ocular infections can result in corneal damage and possibly perforations if not treated quite rapidly.

Many times discharge from the eye in a cat can signal the start of an upper respiratory infection. Other possible causes are a blocked tear duct, allergy, or scratch on the cornea. Because anytime the eye is involved I'm very cautious I'd recommend seeing veterinarian especially if the issue does not resolve by tomorrow. A veterinarian can examine the eye to ensure there is no infection or signs of an upper respiratory infection starting. They can also check to make sure no corneal scratches are present as these can be painful and require antibiotic ointment to treat. Anytime the eye is having an issue it's always best to err on the side of caution and have it checked out. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and I hope Tiger recovers quickly!

I'm sorry to hear that Dr Bigotes seems to have an infection. The yellow discharge from the eyes is very common with conjunctivitis and/or ulcers and does require an eye antibiotic ointment to clear it up. Frequently cats will have a viral infection that can cause this problem as well. I would recommend using a warm compress for 5 minutes a few times a day on her eyes to help remove some of the discharge. You also can gently flush the eyes with sterile saline to remove some of the discharge to see if that makes her more comfortable. I am also very concerned that she is not eating. She may have something else going on that is causing her to loose her appetite, like an upper respiratory infection. You can try heating the food to make it smell more pungent to see if that helps her to smell it better and hopefully eat. Ultimately, I do think you need to take Dr Bigotes into your vet when you are able because she likely needs to have antibiotic ointment for her eyes and to look for an ulceration that may need further treatment. She also may need further treatment for the inappetence.

Excessive discharge and crusty nose as well may be due to an upper respiratory tract infection possibly due to a viral infection. These infections can be quite severe and cause superficial keratitis when they affect the cornea as well. That may be the reason for the cloudy appearance of the left eye. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. 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!