The eyes of our felines often fascinate us not only because of their beautiful colors and deep gaze, but also because of their somewhat mysterious expressions. However, they become a cause for alert for guardians when they are red, swollen, have wounds or other symptoms of eye problems in cats.
If you have noticed that your kitty's eyes are swollen or that your cat does not open one eye properly, you are probably asking yourself questions like " Why does my cat have puffy eyes?" or "what to do if my cat has a bad eye?". Swelling in the eyes of cats is usually the result of ocular inflammation, which can be related to a wide range of diseases and infectious processes. In other words, there is no single reason why your cat has puffy eyes. For this reason, it is essential to take it to the veterinarian to verify the specific cause of the ocular inflammation and establish an adequate treatment according to the needs of each patient. Below, on our site, we detail the main causes of a swollen eye in cats.
Conjunctivitis
Does your cat have a swollen, closed, rheumy or pus-like eye? Red, swollen and rheumy eyes can be a symptom of conjunctivitis in cats, which consists of an inflammation of the membrane that covers the eye and the inside of the eyelids. Therefore, another characteristic symptom of conjunctivitis is the swollen eyelid, or even the third swollen eyelid in the cat. Although it tends to be diagnosed more frequently in baby or young cats, it can affect felines of all ages, whether they are mestizo or purebred.
Conjunctivitis in kittens can be associated with different causes, almost always deriving from an underlying inflammatory or infectious process. Below, we summarize the main causes of conjunctivitis in cats:
- Allergies.
- Respiratory problems, which are often associated with feline rhinotracheitis.
- Uveitis in cats.
- Viral and bacterial infections, especially cases of conjunctivitis associated with feline herpevirus and chlamydiosis in cats.
- Systemic hypertension.
- Traumatisms and injuries to the cat's eye, resulting from blows, scratches during a fight, burns or the entry of foreign bodies into the eye.
- Cancer.
- Inherited problems affecting your eye structure.
Treatment
Conjunctivitis in cats must be treated properly and at the right time to prevent its symptoms from worsening due to the presence of opportunistic bacteria. In addition, many of the causes that originate it are highly contagious diseases among cats, so affected individuals must be isolated. Therefore, if your cat has swollen, wet and/or rheumy eyes, you should immediately take it to the veterinary clinic or hospital.
Initially, you can clean the eye with saline, but then the vet will tell you what treatment to follow depending on the cause.
Allergy
If your cat has swollen eyes and, in addition, feels itchy and tries to scratch frequently in the eye area and nose, it may be an allergic reaction. Symptoms may also occur such as: cough, skin inflammation, sneezing, vomiting and diarrhoea, secretions in the mouth or nose.
Allergies in cats consist of an exaggerated reaction of your immune system after exposure to certain agents that your body interprets as potentially harmful. As with us, cats can be allergic to a lot of things, depending on the organism of each feline.
The agents that most commonly cause allergies in cats are:
- Floors
- Mold or fungus
- Pollen
- Fragrance
- Alcohol
- Food (eggs, chicken, rice, soy, corn, fish)
- Tobacco smoke
- Insecticides (flea products, mosquito repellants, etc.)
- Cleaning products (with a strong scent)
- Insect bites (fleas, mosquitoes, bees, ticks)
To rule out the possibility that your feline is allergic, you can consult your trusted veterinarian about the allergy tests for cats De this way, you can avoid feeding him food or using products that can provoke an overreaction in his immune system.
Treatment
Depending on the allergen causing the allergic reaction, treatment will be as simple as removing it from your cat's life However, this It is not always possible, so the veterinarian should start the most appropriate treatment depending on the type of allergy.
Feline uveitis
When a cat has a swollen and closed eye, we can think of uveitis. Uveitis in cats comprises different inflammatory processes that affect the feline uvea The uveal tract (or simply uvea) is a kind of vascular veil that represents the main protective barrier of the eye, being responsible for the production of aqueous humor that lubricates the eyeball. Depending on the region of the uveal tract that is affected by the inflammation, we will have an anterior, intermediate or posterior uveitis.
Currently, about 70% of feline uveitis cases develop as a consequence of severe systemic pathologies, such as FIV (feline AIDS), feline leukemia and systemic toxoplasmosis. However, inflammation of the uvea can also result from wounds and injuries resulting from street fights, accidents, or trauma.
One of the characteristic signs of feline uveitis is when a cat closes one eye, as the disease causes pain, hypersensitivity and photophobiaIn more advanced cases, the tutor may identify that the cat's eye changes color , has spots on its eyeball or looks cloudy. When you perceive any of these symptoms in your feline, do not hesitate to go quickly to the veterinary center.
Treatment
Uveitis should be treated depending on the cause that causes it. Thus, anti-inflammatory drugs, painkillers and even surgery may be necessary. Depending on the cause, treatment can be lifelong.
Corneal ulcer
If your cat has a swollen, closed and watery eye, it may indicate the presence of an ulcer on his cornea (corneal ulcer). A corneal ulcer is a type of wound in the cat's eye that occurs specifically on the cornea. Although it usually derives from poorly cured or untreated conjunctivitis, it can also be associated with feline herpevirus, or develop from injuries, trauma, or the introduction of foreign bodies into the cat's eye.
Below, we list the most characteristic symptoms of corneal ulcers in cats:
- Excessive and very watery tearing (the cat's eye appears watery or cloudy from excess watery eye fluid).
- Photophobia (because the light bothers him, the cat has one eye half closed).
- Purulent discharge (the cat's eye has greenish flecks like pus).
- Itching (the cat will try to scratch the eye region with great intensity and frequency).
- Third eyelid visible (the pussycat usually has its third eyelid always visible in an attempt to protect its eye).
- Visible ulcers (if it is not treated quickly and correctly, the ulcer on the cornea becomes larger and can be seen with the naked eye).
Treatment
If you observe these symptoms in your feline, you should quickly go to a veterinary center to check his eye and establish the most appropriate treatment according to his state of he alth. Mild cases of corneal ulcer generally respond well to antibiotic treatment, but more advanced cases often require surgical intervention.
Foreign bodies in the eyeball
While this type of "accident" is more common in dogs, cats can also be affected by foreign bodies getting into their eyes. In this case, it is likely that your cat has irritated eyes and excessive tearing to lubricate the eye region and prevent injuries. In addition, he may try scratching or touching himself constantlyin the eye region to relieve discomfort or pain caused by the foreign body in his eyes
Any cat can be affected by the entry of a foreign body into its eye while playing, running or jumping around your home. But stray felines that are exposed to a lot of dirt and tend to go through the garbage in search of food, as well as domestic cats that do not have adequate hygiene in their environment, are especially vulnerable to the introduction of some particle in their eyeball. For this reason, good hygiene and organization at home are great allies in the prevention of various types of illnesses and domestic accidents.
In the case of suspecting that our feline has a foreign body, we will go to a veterinary center without delay, in no case will we try to remove it ourselves, since we could cause greater damage to our cat. Likewise, the application of pharmacology may be necessary to relieve inflammation.
As you can see, the causes that explain why a cat has swollen eyes are varied and all require veterinary attention. For this reason, it is very important to go to a veterinary center as soon as possible.
