My 3-week-old kitten has eye boogers. Is it an eye infection?

Hello. Most of these kitties have a viral infection of the eyes often complicated with a secondary bacterial component. Other than keeping the eyes clear by gently cleaning with warm water a few times a day, there is not much more you can do except having the kitten seen & treated by a veterinarian. With the proper medications, the kitten will start to feel & look better pretty quickly. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Lili. I recommend asking her veterinarian about the eyes. I am concerned that she has an eye infection or an upper respiratory infection as both are common in kittens. If so, she will likely require an antibiotic eye ointment and possibly oral antibiotics if she is sneezing. I hope this information helps!

Most likely no, your kitten will not die from green eye boogers and a raised 3rd eyelid. I recommend going to your vet who will likely prescribe a topical opthalmic antibiotic ointment or drops. He/she may also recommend a fluorescein stain of the eyes to rule out corneal scratches/ulcers. It is possible that after the infection/inflammation is resolved, the third eyelid may return to normal. Feline herpes virus infections in kittens can often lead to secondary bacterial eye infections. Viral infections can not generally be treated but lysine supplements/paste may be helpful in boosting your kitten’s immune system while being treated for a bacterial eye infection. Good luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is difficult to know exactly what is going on without being able to look at her. This may be due to an infection for example. I recommend that you have her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to evaluate her and proceed with therapy accordingly. Best of luck!

I would recommend taking Bear to a veterinarian. It can easily be an infection and he may need antibiotics. It can also be viral but typically they resolve after about 2 weeks. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi there, I'm only appreciating a small amount of eye discharge in the photograph, which could be normal after a long nap or sleep, just like in people. If Percy begins to hold his eyes closed, the eye discharge becomes yellow/green/runny, sneezing, coughing, or less interest in food- these would all be signs of a respiratory infection that may require treatment and an exam from your vet. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Your kitty likely is suffering from an upper respiratory infection and should be seen by a vet for an exam and deworming. It will likely need prescription antibiotics. In the meantime (until you can take her to a vet) you can tak a cloth with warm water an soak the eyes. This should help with opening them. You can then gently wipe off the purulent discharge.