Why is my feral kitten's third eyelid showing and eye squinting?

It looks like your kitty has a prolapsed third eye lid. This does not look like an emergency. It may be that she has worms (this sometimes causes prolapsed nictitating membranes/third eyelids). Should the eye start to ooze purulent discharge or get red or look like it is damage you should take her to a PetER. Otherwise you can wait until Tuesday, if the third eyelid does not retract by then.

It looks like your kitties have prolapsed third eye lids. I am assuming they are inside/outside cats and go hunting as well. A prolapse of the third eye lid can be caused by an infection with tape worm. We do not know why this happens, but most cats who have this (reversible) condition without other disease of the nervous system had a tape worm infection. Tape worm can be successfully treated with a wormer for cats containing praziquantel. If your cats show other signs of illness you should have them examined by a vet as there are other conditions that can cause this prolapse of the third eye lid.

I agree that Sprinkles' right eye appears to have a good bit of discharge and squinting. While it's possible that this issue could be caused by an infection, I would expect both eyes to be affected. When only one eye squints, I worry more about corneal ulcers or abrasions. The only way to know for sure is to take Sprinkles to a vet for a physical exam, including eye evaluation. Since Sprinkles is feral, this process is likely to be more challenging, so you may want to ask your vet if they can prescribe a mild oral sedative like gabapentin to be given before the appointment. Depending on what is found, Sprinkles will likely need to receive eye medication at least twice per day, so he may need to be kept inside or in a safe, confined area until this issue has resolved. Eye issues can change and progress rapidly, so it's best to have him evaluated as soon as possible. Until then, keep him confined and try to put an e-collar (cone) on him if at all possible to prevent any rubbing or scratching of this eye. I hope that he's on the mend soon!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Clea. Her third eyelids are elevated in the picture you have provided. I recommend having her evaluated by a veterinarian to ensure that she does not have a respiratory infection as this can cause the eyes to appear this way. She can also be started on deworming and be tested for the feline leukemia and immunodeficiency viruses at this time. If she is sick, then she will likely need to wait to be vaccinated. I hope this information helps and congratulations on your new kitten!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Hazel. In this picture, both third eyelids look to be in their correct positions. The conjuctiva (lining to eyelid) of the left lower lid is very swollen. It is possible that the kitten scratched his eye while they were playing. He may also have an eye infection. He will likely need to see his veterinarian for a closer evaluation and medication. In the meantime, do not allow him to scratch the eye. I hope this information helps you and Hazel!

What you are seeing is the third eyelid which is elevated. The third eyelid shows like this when the animal is sick and/or in pain. It is not necessarily an eye problem. It could be any illness causing this. The kitten really needs to see a vet if at all possible. ( https://www.tampabayvets.net/questions/cats-3rd-eyelid-showing/ )

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to see that Scarlett is having problems. This can indicate a few things such as something called Horner's Syndrome, Haws Syndrome, or some type of injury to the eye or eyelids. It's not likely Horner's because that is usually one eye and is a neurological disorder of the eye and facial muscles. Haw's syndrome is more likely since it's both eyes. This is an odd syndrome of elevated third eyelids and often times diarrhea. Some people suspect tapeworm infestation or a viral cause for this syndrome. It's usually not treated and is most times self limiting and will resolve. Eye and eyelid injuries are often again only one eye but could less commonly be both eyes. If you don't notice any discharge, rubbing of the eyes, redness of the eyes, or pain I would just advise monitoring the situation. I did notice that her left third eyelid and eye looked redder than the right which could mean that she does have something going on with that eye, such as conjunctivitis. I would advise seeing your veterinarian and let them evaluate her. They can take a detailed history and perform a thorough examination. Once those are done, your vet can advise you on a diagnostic/treatment plan based on their clinical findings. Possible tests include a corneal stain, conjunctival scrape, etc. Conjunctivitis is commonly viral and/or bacterial in nature in young kittens. Also, your vet can advise you on a good preventive health care program for Scarlett. Good question. I hope this just resolves on it's own like most cases do.