Cat’s eye injury is a very common occurrence. They can be caused by scratched corneas, foreign bodies (such as grass awns), puncture wounds from catfights or bites, and other hazards. Though most cat’s eye infection and injuries are not life-threatening to your cat, it is important to know how to treat them if you see something wrong with your pet’s eyes.
Do Not Take the Cat's Eye Out of Socket
If your cat has an eye injury, do not take the cat's eye out of the socket. This is a very dangerous thing to do and can cause further damage to your pet’s eyesight and health.
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Do not try to pull the eye out of its socket.
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Don’t put anything into your cat’s eyes (like water or medicines). You could injure them even more if you were trying to help!
If you cannot get your cat to see a veterinarian immediately, place him in a quiet place where he will be safe from further injury until you are able to get him help or notice improvement in his condition. Call your local emergency veterinary service number to seek veterinary care immediately if needed; however, many vets recommend waiting until morning hours because most injuries will heal overnight without intervention by professional staff members at this time period due to increased blood flow through capillaries present within ocular tissue structures during daylight hours versus nighttime hours when they’re not as active due to lack thereof due primarily towards lack sunlight exposure levels reaching retinae cells within retinas themselves which causes photoreceptor cells located within irises/pupils fail function properly thus making it difficult for owners/caretakers identify whether these conditions exist prior diagnosis via human observation alone rather than using specialized diagnostic tools such as microscopes etcetera so please keep these facts mind before making any decisions regarding whether treatment should occur now vs later after assessing risks involved with each option carefully beforehand.”
Seek Veterinary Care Immediately
If you think your cat has sustained an eye injury or if the cat is bleeding from their eye, or if you suspect a cat's eye infection, call your vet immediately. If your cat has suffered any kind of blunt trauma to their head or face and you are not sure what caused it or what to do next, contact them as well. They will be able to provide guidance on whether or not it would be best for them to come in for treatment at this time or whether they should wait until morning when they can see better (or if they should go straight into surgery).
If possible, put pressure on the injured area using gauze pads saturated with cold water; this may help stop further bleeding until medical attention arrives. If possible, place a cloth bandage over the top of this compress–never try wrapping anything around an injured animal’s neck because doing so could cause further harm!
Cover The Eye with a Moist, Cool Compress
Cover the eye with a moist, cool compress to help alleviate eye irritation. Issues with the third eyelid can also cause eye discharge, so it is essential to consult a veterinarian for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Use a clean cloth or cotton pad that has been soaked in water. Do not use ice; it could cause more damage to the eye.
Do not cover the injured area with a patch or bandage; it will only make things worse by trapping heat around your cat’s face, potentially causing further damage to his eyesight as well as increasing swelling around his face and neck area (which can lead to breathing difficulties).
A vet can flush out an injured cat’s eyes using sterile saline solution that may be administered during first aid treatment if necessary; this can help soothe any pain associated with minor scratches on corneas while also dilating pupils enough for better visibility during examination by medical professionals who might need access inside their patient’s bodies later down road after initial treatment has been completed successfully without any complications arising from previous actions taken against them earlier today when trying desperately hard not let anyone else know how worried about hurting someone else because fear was keeping us quiet instead of asking questions before acting rashly based solely upon assumptions made about what others might think about us later down road after everything comes crashing down around us like waves crashing against rocks along shores where ships used once sailed freely across open seas but no longer do because now everybody knows better than before when they didn’t know anything at all except maybe just one thing: there isn’t always time left over after doing everything possible within our power limits available right now today tomorrow morning tomorrow afternoon tomorrow evening followed closely behind by another day then another night which means even though we haven’t slept much lately due mostly due lack thereof sleep patterns changing over time growing older means less time spent sleeping since nothing lasts forever except maybe death itself depending upon whether death really exists outside ourselves being here right now writing these words onto paper hoping somehow someway someone somewhere someday might read this message someday too late though maybe still worth mentioning anyway.
Try to Determine What Caused the Injury
If you know what caused the injury, tell your vet. Cat conjunctivitis, a common cause of cat eye problems, can be recognized by symptoms such as redness, eye discharge, and swollen eyes. Feline upper respiratory infection can also cause symptoms like eye discharge and conjunctivitis. If your cat is generally healthy and active, it’s unlikely to be anything serious. Your vet will know how to treat the injury and whether or not it requires immediate medical attention. You should always get professional medical help if your cat’s eye is damaged–it can be hard to assess the extent of an eye injury without proper equipment! If you are worried that something may be wrong with your feline friend’s peepers, take him or her immediately in for examination at his/her earliest convenience (and call ahead).
The following symptoms may indicate a need for immediate veterinary attention:
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Cloudiness in one or both eyes
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Redness around one or more eyes (may indicate infection)
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Swelling near any part of either eye (could mean trauma)
Take Your Cat to the Vet if You See an Eye Infection:
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Bleeding: If your cat is bleeding from the eye, take him to the vet immediately. You can try applying pressure with a sterile gauze pad or clean cloth, but if there is significant bleeding or you see blood in his eye, don’t delay going to see your vet!
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Swelling: If there seems to be excessive swelling around your cat’s eye(s), also head straight for an emergency clinic–it could mean he has suffered trauma to his skull bones or other facial structures underneath his skin that need medical attention right away.
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Discharge from the Eye(s) &/or Severe Pain: If there is discharge coming out of one or both eyes (this could be clear liquid like tears), along with severe pain when you touch their eyelid(s), it may be time for another visit with Dr. Feline right away! Cat eye discharge can be a symptom of infections like conjunctivitis or upper respiratory infections. Bacterial or viral infections can cause symptoms like eye discharge and require different treatments. This kind of injury could lead to permanent loss of vision so check on those precious peepers every day until they heal properly again.
If It Seems Serious, It Probably Is
If you know what caused the injury or if it seems like it is serious, go see your vet as soon as possible. If not, follow the steps below to treat your cat’s eye injury at home:
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If there is anything in the eye (dust, dirt), remove it carefully with a moist cotton swab or washcloth. If there are large particles that won’t come out on their own, gently pull them out with tweezers and keep an eye on your cat for any signs of discomfort afterward (like squinting).
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Apply an antibiotic ointment such as neomycin sulfate 1% solution (topical) twice daily until healed; follow package directions for dosage information and precautions about using near eyes or other sensitive areas on the face/body. This helps prevent bacterial infections and promotes healing.
Conclusion
Eye injuries and eye infections in cats can be scary, but they are also fairly common. Monitoring your cat's eyes for signs such as watering, swelling, and discharge is crucial. If you know what caused the injury or if it seems like it is serious, go see your vet as soon as possible. Treating eye injuries in cats requires immediate first aid treatment at home followed by a trip to the veterinarian’s office where they will give further instructions on how to care for your pet’s eyesight until recovery is complete.
