Proper cat eye care is an important part of your cat's health. With some simple steps, you can avoid most serious problems and ensure your cat's eyes are well cared for.
Daily Care: Preventing Problems
While grooming your cat each day, take a moment to check his eyes, and make sure they are moist and clear. There should be no redness or puffiness, and your cat should be able to look at things without squinting.
If you have a long-haired cat, pay attention to the hair around his eyes, and make sure it is trimmed short enough to keep his eyes clear. If your cat's hair is too long, it could irritate his eyes and scratch the corneas (the membrane across the surface of the eye). To trim the hair around your cat's eyes, use a pair of blunt ended scissors and trim the hair very carefully. If you are uneasy attempting this yourself, you can visit a pet groomer.
Try to prevent mucus from building up in the corners of your cat's eyes. This can happen if your cat has a respiratory infection, or it can happen on its own. Bacteria can breed in this mucus and cause an eye infection. To clear this mucus away, gently wipe your cat's eyes with a clean, damp cloth.
Don't be alarmed if you notice stains in the fur at the corners of your cat's eyes. As with human eyes, cat's eyes constantly produce a small amount of tears to help keep the eyes clear of irritants. Sometimes these tears collect in the corners of the eyes, and if you have a light-colored cat, the fur at the corners of your cat's eyes can be stained by these tears. These stains are not harmful, but if you find them unattractive, ask your vet about tear stain remover products.
When To Call Your Vet
Even though a little tear staining is harmless, if you notice your cat's eyes are suddenly more watery than usual, this could be a sign of infection, and you should contact your vet. You should also call your vet if you notice your cat rubbing or scratching his eyes excessively, or if your cat's eyes are red or swollen. Your vet will most likely prescribe medicated eye drops which should clear up any infection.
Older cats, like humans, sometimes develop more serious eye problems like cataracts or glaucoma. Cataracts are cloudy patches in the lens inside the eye, and glaucoma is a change in the pressure in the fluid inside the eye. Both are serious problems which can only be treated with surgery. Be sure to have your older cat regularly examined by a vet to screen for these problems.
Finally, if your vet prescribes any kind of chemical treatment for your cat's skin, such as a flea dip, don't forget to ask if there is any special protection you may need for your cat's eyes. Your vet may give you a protective ointment to apply to your cat's eyes first; usually this ointment is applied just under the top lid.