Generally, you will not need to clean the area around your cat's eyes. However, if you have a cat with a very flat face, eg. a Persian cat, it may well have eyes which water constantly which will need wiping on a regular basis. Gently wipe with a cotton wool ball dampened with clean water or a little baby oil.
In conclusion, cat eye boogers are a normal part of a cat's life and should not be cause for alarm. While they may be unsightly, they are usually harmless and can be cleaned up with a little bit of patience and a few simple supplies.
Certain breeds are much more prone to watery eyes and boogers. Flat-faced breeds such as Persians, with big beautiful eyes and short noses, do tend to be more susceptible to excess eye discharge. This is totally normal unless you notice it becoming excessive.
Safely Removing Cat Eye Discharge
Before visiting the vet, you can keep your cat comfortable by dipping a cotton wool ball in water and wiping away the discharge from the inner corner of the eye outward. Use a clean ball for each eye.
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.
Your cat's eyes, when healthy, should look clear and bright. However, if you notice anything unusual about them, such as goopy discharge or discolouration, it may be a good idea to bring them to the vet.
Some cat eye discharge warrants a trip to the vet.
“If there is enough discharge that you have to wipe your pet's eye(s) more than one to two times daily, or if your cat is squinting or frequently rubbing at his eye(s), or if the eye(s) look red, he should be seen by a veterinarian,” Dr. Kimmitt says.
A dark crusty material in the corners of the eyes can also be normal. Tears contain pigments that when exposed to sunlight turn dark. This is not due to blood or infection. Just like many people have “sleep” in their eyes each morning, so do many cats.
It commonly manifests as dampness on your cat's face, as well as cat tear stains that look like reddish-brown streaks. Epiphora is most often associated with insufficient tear drainage. This type of cat eye discharge is usually nothing more than a cosmetic nuisance, but might be a sign of serious health problems.
What eye changes may be present in a sick cat? Droopy eyelids, discharges that are green, yellow, or white, squinting, pupils that are dilated or constricted, or anisocoria (one pupil dilated and the other constricted are all signs that something is amiss.
If your cat has watery eyes and is blinking excessively, squinting or pawing at their eyes it's time for a trip to the vet. Your cat could have a foreign body trapped and irritating the eye, or a blocked nasolacrimal duct (tear duct).
Signs Your Cat Might Have an Eye Infection
In fact, your cat may only have one or two clinical signs of an infection. Generally, though, a cat with an eye infection may have any of the following: Redness in the white of the eye. Discharge that can be either watery or thick or clear, yellow, or green in color.
You can gently wipe your cat's eyes with soft and clean cotton balls and sterile or distilled water. It may be a struggle to hold the cotton balls in place, but do your best to help break up the debris. Be sure to use a separate cotton ball for each eye to avoid spreading the infection.
Dip a cotton ball in water. Wipe away the eye discharge, always from the corner of the eye outward. Use a fresh cotton ball for each eye. Steer clear of any over-the-counter drops or washes unless your vet has prescribed them.
Young cats have weaker immune systems and may come down with an infection if kept in close quarters with an infected cat. Feline Herpesvirus (FHV) can cause conjunctivitis, which is basically pinkeye. Autoimmune disease, cancer, eye trauma and feline leukemia may also be to blame for an infection.
A Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the delicate mucous membranes underneath the eyelids. The most common cause I have seen in my own indoor cats was dust from the litter. Clumping litter, especially in a closed in litter box with a lid, increases dust in the air when the cat digs and buries its feces.
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.
Signs include excessive watering and itching of the eyes, inflammation of the conjunctiva, cloudy corneas with slow-healing sores, and rarely, blindness. After a local anesthetic is applied, diagnosis can be confirmed by observing the worms. The veterinarian can remove the parasites with forceps.
Changing color is commonly an indicator of an eye infection, but could be a sign of a more serious condition. One common eye condition in cats is an eyeball inflammation known as uveitis, which can do permanent damage if left untreated. Symptoms include abnormally yellow, red or orange colored eyes.
If you believe your dog or cat may have some eye irritation, try using a homemade saline solution made from 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 1 cup of lukewarm water. Drip the saline solution into your pet's eye using a cotton ball or eye dropper 3 or 4 times a day.
Topical Corticosteroid Ointment or Drops
Corticosteroids are often prescribed to help stop eye inflammation. In cat's these drops and ointments are most commonly used to treat conjunctivitis, episcleritis, scleritis, pannus, and eosinophilic keratitis.
Make sure they are not too hot before you put them on her eyes as you do not want to burn or irritate her. Let the tea bags sit on your cat's eyes for one to two minutes. If there is any crust around your cat's eyes, the tea bags will help to loosen it and make it easier to wipe off.