How to reduce tear stains on my Persian cat? Diet and home care?

I feel your pain on this issue! I have a Persian, and he gets terrible tear stains. I use a tear stain remover on my cat, which I get from the pet store. I would get one of those, as they help remove the stains. You can try feeding him from a porcelain or metal bowl. Plastic bowls can crack and retain bacteria, which can cause continued problems with excessive tearing. You can also give him filtered water instead of tap water, as that's reported to help as well.

I have a Persian as well, and face the same problem you have with Smooshee. Because a Persian's face is so flat, they have a shortened nasal cavity. The result of that if they experience more drainage from their eyes, and it is common in cats and dogs with flatter faces. I also clean my Persian's face daily, and I use Fido's tear stain remover for dogs and cats. I got it at Animates pet store here in New Zealand, and I'm sure you can find that product or something similar in Australia. I find with using that I don't have to clean up Mao's face (my cat) every day, and it helps get rid of the tear stains. I recommend using a product like that. Another thing to consider is that Smooshee could be suffering from chlamydia. Don't worry, you can't get it! It's a bacteria respiratory infection in cats that manifests as conjunctivitis. It can be a chronic condition, and it becomes worse in times of stress. Mao has it as well, and it makes his tear stains worse sometimes. A course of doxycycline can help clear up an outbreak of chlamydia in cats, and you can have Smooshee seen by a vet to see if she does suffer from it as it may help with her tear stain problem.

Great question! There are tear stain removers you can buy from a pet store that helps remove Luna's tear stains. Some people report that quality of water affects tear stains, so you can give her purified water. Clean her face twice a day with a damp cloth to remove excess tears. I'd recommend using a glass, porcelain, or stainless steel bowl instead of plastic, as plastic bowls crack and can retain bacteria. I'd also recommend having Luna seen by a vet, as excessive tear stains can be caused by ingrown eye lashes or abnormally large tear producing glands, which can be treated surgically. Finally stress and poor diet can contribute to the product of tear stains, so make sure to feed her a high quality puppy formulated food. I recommend Royal Canin or Hills Science diet.

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.

The best way to prevent future eye issues is to have his eyes checked bi-annually through your vet. This will catch any eye issues (i.e. dry eye) early and get them treated for. You also should wipe around the eyes with a warm wet clean cloth daily to help remove build-up and debris because Persians tend to have excessive tear production. You can also use a sterile eye wash daily to remove build-up instead of just regular tap water. You don't have to flush the eyes, just remove debris in the corners of the eyes as it drains. There are lots of names to choose from and I would suggest naming him based on his personality. Here is a website link with tips on name suggestions for him. http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/dos-and-donts-for-picking-a-pet-name Best wishes with your new pet Persian. Take care.

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!

Unfortunately you cannot get rid of them completely, but there are a few things you can try. You can use a metal water and food bowl instead of plastic. Some people think filtered water can help. I find that a tear stain wipe, such as the Angel Eyes brand, helps remove them. I'd also have Moki seen by a vet for the smell, that may mean an infection.