The feline viruses and bacteria that cause pink eye in cats cannot be transmitted to humans. If you have multiple cats, however, you can accidentally transmit an infection from one fur baby to another through petting, feeding, or brushing. Even your dog can be susceptible to conjunctivitis, says PetCareRx.
In rare cases, a dog can give a human pink eye. Likewise, if you are suffering from pink eye, it's a possibility for you to transfer the infection to your beloved friend.
Cats with a viral or bacterial eye infection can sometimes spread it to their owners, so follow the same advice for dogs given above just to make sure you don't catch whatever your kitty has.
Allergies are a cause of conjunctivitis for many cats. They can come from the environment (dust, pollen, weeds, mites, fleas, etc.) or in food. Physical irritants can range from foreign bodies like grass, sticks, or eyelashes, to harder-to-diagnose irritants like dust, chemicals, smoke, and eye ointments.
Acute allergic conjunctivitis — Acute allergic conjunctivitis is a sudden-onset reaction that occurs when a person comes in contact with a known allergen, such as cat dander.
Your tears will have flushed your eye out very quickly, the risk would only be if you had a small scratch/abrasion on your eye when it happened.
The infection will usually clear up in 7 to 14 days without treatment and without any long-term consequences. However, in some cases, viral conjunctivitis can take 2 to 3 weeks or more to clear up. A doctor can prescribe antiviral medication to treat more serious forms of conjunctivitis.
In most cases, he points out, conjunctivitis will self-resolve with no medication at all. However, he advises, owners should seek veterinary care if a cat has apparent eye discomfort and discharge to rule out more serious eye disorders.
Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye) are very contagious. They can spread easily from person to person. You can greatly reduce the risk of getting conjunctivitis or spreading it to someone else by following some simple steps for good hygiene.
Owning a cat is linked to Toxoplasmosis and the eye disorder, glaucoma. So, if you're considered the “crazy cat lady” in your neighborhood, you might want to pay heed.
Cats can sometimes carry germs that can make people sick, even when they appear clean and healthy. Visit your veterinarian for routine care to keep your cat healthy and to prevent infectious diseases.
Excessive tearing or watery eyes is a common symptom of pink eye. Sometimes the discharge from pink eye is watery and sticky rather than thick and pus-like. Watery eyes are a common symptom of allergic conjunctivitis.
If you're having bacterial pink eye symptoms, the fastest way to treat them is to see your doctor. Your doctor can prescribe antibiotic eye drops. According to a review from the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, using antibiotic eyedrops can shorten the duration of pink eye.
If you have conjunctivitis but do not have fever or other symptoms, you may be allowed to remain at work or school with your doctor's approval. However, if you still have symptoms, and your activities at work or school include close contact with other people, you should not attend.
A rough guide to when it is safe to return to work or school is: Bacterial pink eye: After 24 hours of antibiotic treatment. Viral pink eye: After 2 days to about a week. Allergic pink eye: No need to stay home.
Eye infections are extremely contagious. Cats that are exposed to other infected cats run the risk of contracting an infection themselves. Young cats have weaker immune systems and may come down with an infection if kept in close quarters with an infected cat.
People often call conjunctivitis “pink eye” because it can cause the white of the eye to take on a pink or red color. Symptoms of pink eye can vary but typically include redness or swelling of the white of the eye.
With antibiotic treatment, symptoms usually go away in 2 to 3 days. But antibiotics only work for bacterial pink eye, not for the more common viral pink eye. Viral pink eye often improves on its own in 7 to 10 days.
Pink eye usually does not have long-term complications. Rarely, the cornea becomes chronically inflamed, leading to permanent vision problems. You should see an ophthalmologist if your pink eye does not resolve or if it gets worse after a week of treatment.
Although most cases of pink eye go away without a doctor's care, if you are experiencing any severe symptoms, or if your symptoms do not go away on their own, you may require emergency eye care. If you have a newborn with symptoms of pink eye, they should be seen by an eye doctor immediately.
Cats carry bacteria in their mouths, which can lead to local or systemic infection if a cat licks an open wound. Immunocompromised people are most at risk. Acquiring a disease from your cat is very rare, but to be safe, don't let your cat lick your face or any cuts on your skin.
A cat's eyes should be cleaned daily if the crusty secretions form; if you do not notice anything in particular, it is sufficient to cleanse them twice a week, in order to keep them healthy.
Cats lick your eye area because they are verifying that you are their owner. Licking your eye is a way for cats to let you know they know who you are and that they recognize your scent. You should discourage this as cats can transmit diseases to humans through the eyes.