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Why does my Persian kitten have brown eye discharge? Is it normal?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Persian | Male | unneutered | 4 months and 2 days old

hello, I was wondering if brown discharge under persian cat eyes is normal, I just got a Persian kitten and I have to clean his eyes almost every day. At first I thought there might be something wrong with his eyes but there is no redness or inflammation nor does the kitten show any signs of discomfort like rubbing its eyes.

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Jessica Desrosiers

Veterinary Technician

Published on September 25th, 2019

Some eye discharge and tear staining can be normal, especially in white or other light-furred colors that will show the stain more easily. Many pet stores carry products to help remove the stain and keep the eyes clear. If the discharge becomes green, yellow, or you notice any other symptoms of illness, this could indicate an issue such as a respiratory infection instead, which should be checked out by your vet.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on September 25th, 2017
Is it dirty or a the normal brownish tear staining? If they are infected you need to take him to a vet for an exam. If it is is the tear staining here is an article and video on how to deal with that:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8et7EBhhpMY

http://meowlifestyle.com/how-to-clean-persian-cat-eyes/

Hope this helps. Best wishes.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT
Licensed Veterinary Technician
Published on December 26th, 2016
Yes, she may have a viral or bacterial eye infection or corneal injury. Any one of these may cause excessive tearing with abnormal color. Corneal staining can diagnose scratches or ulcers not seen by the naked eye and obstructed tear ducts can be flushed to help drainage.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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Is dark, crusty eye discharge normal for my 6-month-old kitten?

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.

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My Persian cat has watery, gooey, black eye discharge. What to do?

Persians have very flat faces, and eye tearing and improper tear drainage due to their face structure. Bacteria causes the discharge to become rust-brown and can stain the face of white or light colored cats. You should clean Simba's face daily to prevent this from happening. You can eye use wipes, sold in pet stores, to keep them free of tears and the build up. You can also use a slightly damp cotton ball one to two times daily to wipe the area around the eyes, removing any dried, crusty tears that have formed overnight. Also have him checked out by a vet to make sure he doesn't have an eye infection, as that can also be cause of excessive eye discharge. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

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Health & Wellness

My kitten has brown discharge and can't open one eye. What's wrong?

I can see excessive discharge in the right eye and the eye is not as open as the left one. These signs indicate something abnormal and as always with eyes I would recommend to have the eye examined by a vet. The vet will examine the different parts of the eye and make sure no foreign material present as well as stain the eye to evaluate the cornea. Possible causes can be: trauma, foreign material, conjunctivitis, upper respiratory infection and more. Hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach

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Why does my white cat have dark eye gunk that keeps coming back?

You may be seeing dried tears which will sometimes appear dark in color especially in a white cat. If PK is not squinting, and you are not seeing red eyes or excessive discharge what you are seeing is likely normal. However, in some cases eye discharge can be a sign of an upper respiratory infection. It's hard to say for sure if the debris you are seeing in PK is normal without doing an examination on him. If you can take a picture and submit it that may also be helpful. If PK develops any signs of respiratory illness (continued eye discharge, sneezing, lethargy, or changes in appetite) then he should be examined by a veterinarian. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

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My Persian kitten has teary eyes. What's the best way to help?

Persians have such compressed eye sockets that the normal amount of tears that every cat has ends up tearing in a Persian. Also because the eyes have more exposure they probably create a little more tear film. Nothing will “fix” this. However, rinsing with isotonic saline can help rinse any debris out and keep the cornea as healthy as possible. I would keep doing that. If the eyes are red or if the discharge is green the. She should be seen by a veterinarian. Good luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

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Is brown discharge from my 7-week-old kitten's nose and eyes serious?

Hi, and thanks for your question. This sign could be compatible with an upper respiratory tract inflammation/infection or possibly to a rhinitis (inflammatory, allergic, infective). 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!

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Why does my kitten have black specks around her eyes? Is it normal?

What a cute kitten! We can sometimes see tears from the eye turn a blackish color if they accumulate on the face and dry, they become oxidized and turn dark or rust colored. I would recommend wiping around your kitty's eyes with a warm wet washcloth a few times away to clean off any excess tears/discharge. If you notice any redness to the eyes, discharge that starts to look green or yellow, sneezing/coughing, lethargy or decreased appetite, then I would recommend bringing Mango into the vet for an examination.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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