by Michael
(London, UK)
Barn Kitten with conjunctivitis - photo Lee (Flickr). I have used this sad picture before.
Feline conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva is a clear mucous membrane consisting of cells and underlying basement membrane that covers the sclera (white part of the eye) and lines the inside of the eyelids1. "Itis" means inflammed in medical parlance. It is one of the most common health problems that cats have with their eyes3.
What causes the inflammation? Usually viral or bacterial infections. Other non-infectious agents that can cause inflammation are: tumors, dermoids (cysts of mature skin and hair and other tissue), trauma, foreign bodies, allergic disease, fungal infection (rare) and pre-corneal tear film abnormalities.
The most common viral infectious agent is Feline Herpes Virus (FHV). A common baterial infection is caused by Chlamydia psittaci (30% of cases perhaps). The Feline calicivirus can also cause feline conjunctivitis. When one eye is first inflamed and then a second this indicates a bacterial infection (Chlamydia or Mycoplasma). Conversely if both eyes are involved a viral infection is indicated3.
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The inflamed eye will look red and swollen. There is usually a watery discharge "as a result of pain"2. If the discharge is yellow and sticky it indicates a bacterial infection. Feline conjunctivitis is not painful to the cat (this conflicts with the above)3. The eye is irritated and may itch. The cat may paw at the eye for this reason. If the eye is painful to touch the condition might be: keratitis (the eye's cornea, the front part of the eye, becomes inflamed1), uveitis (inflammation of the middle layer of the eye1) or glaucoma (a disease in which the optic nerve is damaged, leading to progressive, irreversible loss of vision1).
Treatment for bacterial infections is administering antibiotics which is effective in for individual cats. An ointment is applied to the eye at regular intervals. Multi-cat households are harder to treat. Antiviral eye medication will be prescribed by a vet if needed.
Mild forms can be treated at home. The eye(s) should be cleaned with a dilute solution of boric acid for ophthalmic use or a sterile ophthalmic irrigating solution for people (buy over the counter). Improvement should occur within 24 hours and if not a trip to the vet is needed3.
New born kittens can contract feline conjunctivitis before their eyes open after 10-12 days. Infectious agents or bacteria can enter the closed eye. FHV can also affect a new born kitten by being transmitted through the mother's milk or at birth.
Feline Conjunctivitis - associated pages:
Feline Eye Disease (new window)
Feline Herpes Virus (new window)
Notes:
1. Verbatim quote Wikipedia authors
2. Veterinary Notes for Cat Owners by Trevor Turner DVM and Jean Turner VN
3. Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook by Drs Carlson and Giffin
Hi Sue, I’ll respond fully very soon. I am travelling at this moment. Thanks for visiting and asking.
I think my formerly feral cat, Colby, has conjunctivitis in her left eye which has been dead, and not a problem, for over 12 years. Vet care is not possible due to the fact that I am not able to catch or pick up this cat even though she lives indoors exclusively and likes to be combed and petted. Sedation delivered via food would make it possible, but the vet won’t dispense the drug until AFTER they have seen the cat. You see the problem. So, I’m on my own trying to figure out what is wrong with her eye and what to do about it. I suspect she also suffers from hyperthyroidism and renal issues, but she was enjoying life until this eye problem started.
The only thing I’ve been able to do for her is try to bolster her immune system by adding colostrum and a whole food form of vitamin C to her food. This seems to help a little, but I think the situation is going critical nonetheless. She seems withdrawn now, maybe just sick of it all, or maybe in pain. She’s still eating and drinking, purring etc., but has retreated to her favorite spot on the bathroom counter where I am now feeding, watering, and toileting her in very low light. Thankfully, her other eye seems okay.
She dislikes me even gently wiping the goo from her eye with a warm moist gauze pad, so eye rinses are probably out. Do you have any suggestions for other supplements I could add to her food to strengthen her immune system and/or more directly treat her?
I know very little about conjunctivitis and I’m only assuming that’s what this is. The online info just doesn’t address how this might present in an eye that is already dead. Her eye most resembles the pictures I’ve seen of conjunctivitis, but it rapidly cycles through stages where a glob of tissue grows out of the inner corner toward the center of the eye, then gets very red, then bleeds, then sloughs, then appears calm, then the next day it starts all over again. Does that sound like conjunctivitis? And in the last few days pus started coming out of the eye, although that may be getting somewhat better if the reduced odor and volume is any indication. I’ve noticed that since the pus started she seems to have lost a tiny bit of nasal congestion that she’d had, and I think that she is no longer favoring her left ear. It appears to me that the dead eyeball is still intact behind that burgeoning tissue in the inner corner of her eye. Any thoughts or suggestions you have for healing her or even just keeping her comfortable would be most welcome. Thank you. ~Sue~
Hi Carl, thanks for visiting and asking. Of course your best bet is to take your cat to a vet but I’ll summarise what the Cat Owner’s Home Veterinary Handbook says for “watery discharge from eyes”:
1. Acute viral respiratory infection. This is a bit like a human common cold. You cannot avoid seeing a vet about this.
2. Conjunctivitis. Well, you have the information about that on this page.
That is it. It is probably caused by a viral and/or bacterial infection and your vet can decide how to treat it. Bacterial infections require antibiotic treatment usually. Viral infections require a bundle of treatments a bit like treating a person with a cold.
Maybe someone can help, I have 2yr old domestic longhair male, he has one of his eyes which runs sometimes and when he stares he kind of squints with his left eye the same one that’s running, do anyone have any suggestions on what the problem might be.
Donna, I’ll do some work on this in about 8 hours. I’ll add the information to this comment. Thanks for visiting.
Update: Personally, I don’t think parasites are the initial cause of the problem. Are you sure the eye is infected? There are a lot eye diseases. It could be an eye problem rather than an infection.
Haw syndrome is when the third eyelid protrudes. I am sure you know that. Apparently it is “frequently” preceded by a gastrointestinal illness. I am not sure if this is relevant but if your cat has a gastrointestinal illness (presumed from haws) and an eye infection (observed by you), this may point to an underlying illness. Is your cat eating and defecating normally?
The painful point that I am coming to is that in this instance there is no substitute to taking your to the vet. It is just guesswork otherwise. Sorry that I cannot be more helpful. I would love to help and wish you and your cat the best of luck.
Michael
My cat is 18, a former diabetic. She had about a week ago what appeared to be haws, but the eye has since become infected. I can’t afford to take her to the vet so I’ve been treating her with golden seal and eyebright. We had fleas in the early part of the year, so I’m thinking that parasites could be the initial problem(?).I could afford the $3. pill to rid her of the potential parasites…would this be helpful? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks, Donna