Why a cat's eyes water: from an accidental speck to dangerous diseases
Are you royally caring for your beloved cat, but he still cries? Let's look at why this can happen and how dangerous the problem of lacrimation in cats is.
In fact, tears from cat eyes are not such a rare phenomenon. Let's understand the reasons.
Causes of increased lacrimation in cats
► “A speck in the eye.” The simplest thing that can cause lacrimation is the entry of a foreign object into the pet’s visual organ. The speck can be small and unnoticeable. Since fluffies carefully monitor hygiene by licking their fur, hair could get under the eyelid. In this case, tears will flow from only one eye. Watch your pet! If the cat is anxious, constantly touches its face with its paws and “cries” - wait a while. If it is wool or a speck of dust, it will be washed away naturally with tears. If you wish, you can help your cat by dropping an artificial tear into the eye that is causing discomfort.
► Eye(s) injury. For example, a cat could scratch itself, injuring its eye with an overgrown claw or a prickly object; his visual organ could have been damaged during a fight with other animals, etc. In such cases, the animal will squint. If you notice that your pet is squinting for a certain period of time, this is a reason to show it to the veterinarian. Perhaps the cat is in danger of losing his vision and should act immediately.
► Allergic reaction. Allergens can be: dust, food ingredients, pollen from flowering plants, etc. How to recognize that a cat is allergic and is crying because of it? Tears will flow from both eyes at once, and the animal will also sneeze and itch. A visit to the veterinary clinic will help. An experienced doctor will select a suitable antihistamine for your furry pet if he determines that the problem is an allergy.
► Parasites. It also happens that tears from a cat's eyes begin to flow when the animal is parasitic infested. In this case, you must also consult a veterinarian.
► Disease-causing viruses or bacteria. Is your cat crying for a long time and the discharge from the eyes is thick, yellow or whitish? It appears that her vision has been affected by a bacterial or viral infection. In this case, she will need to undergo treatment. After a veterinary examination, it will become clear how exactly to treat the animal, because diagnoses can be different: conjunctivitis, toxoplasmosis, herpes infection and others.
► The anatomical structure of the skull of some cat breeds can increase the frequency of lacrimation. Cats with a flattened face are more likely to cry than other breeds. Increased lacrimation occurs in Persian, Scottish, British, Burmese cats, as well as in exotic cats. When a pet has a small muzzle (brachycephalic type), but at the same time has huge bulging eyes, this is usually also accompanied by narrow, deformed nasolacrimal ducts. The recesses for tears are also small, so tears flowing from the eye do not fall into the nose, but directly onto the fur of the muzzle, where they form dark paths. These cats' eyes are more likely to become clogged, and the owner should take more careful care of their pet's visual organs and focus on the transparency of the tears.
If the tear fluid becomes cloudy, other alarming symptoms have appeared, such as loss of interest in food - perhaps this is an infection, but as long as the tear is clear, your pet is normal.
Representatives of such breeds of cats as the Don Sphynx and Devon Rex experience entropion of the eyelids, a congenital defect that causes frequent tearing. When blinking, the eyelid touches the eyelashes, which curl inward, and micro-scratches remain on the cornea, which is why the cat cries. Such animals will require a minor surgical operation - and the problem will quickly be resolved.
In what cases should you consult a doctor?
A small amount of clear discharge from your cat's eyes is completely normal. There may be deposits in the corners, especially in the morning. This shouldn't bother your furry friend or you too much. A healthy pet's eyes are clear and clean, without any special discharge.
Kittens (2 weeks - 2 months) and older cats (over 8 years old) can also “shed tears”. This is usually within the normal range - such animals are more susceptible to lacrimation than cats in their prime. However, it would not hurt the owner to take a closer look at the crying pet and if tears appear more and more often, this may mean that the immune system is weakened.
So, if frequent tears are accompanied by symptoms such as:
► refusal to eat, loss of appetite;
► drowsiness, lethargy and apathy;
► attempts to scratch the eyes with paws;
► swelling of the eye(s);
► the cat cannot open his eye(s);
► discharge from the eyes is purulent, cloudy or bloody;
► cloudy eyes;
► different pupil sizes;
► nasal discharge (rhinitis);
► wound, scratches around the eye;
► photophobia;
► squinting of both eyes;
► a crust has formed on the eyelids,
you need to make an appointment with a veterinarian, because perhaps this is what will happen after
will preserve the cat's vision in the long run.
Do not self-medicate your pet, and if there are alarming symptoms, immediately contact a veterinarian. This way you can prevent the development of dangerous diseases, decreased vision or blindness of the cat. In addition, some diseases that manifest themselves in frequent lacrimation in a cat (calcivirosis, rhinotracheitis, chlamydia, etc.) can be transmitted to humans.
Furry pet eye care
It's no secret that a cat's eyes need to be looked after regularly: wipe them with cotton wool or a cotton swab moistened with clean water or a special lotion 1-2 times a week. You can also use a warm infusion of chamomile (wipe your eyes 2-3 times a day with a cotton swab moistened with the infusion). There is no need to wash your fluffy's eyes with tea leaves - today there are many more suitable and effective means for this purpose.
If your cat is prone to frequent tearing, try to clean the room where the pet spends a lot of time more often. Dust - under the furniture, behind the closet, in the most secluded corners where our fluffies love to get into, can serve as an allergen and cause profuse cat tears. Acute reactions also occur to chemicals (detergents), paint and varnish products, and pollen.
If your cat has long hair, it constantly gets into his eyes and this leads to frequent tears - try cutting it off his face and making it shorter. Frequent brushing of your pet will also help.
If a small speck gets into your cat's eye and you see it, try to remove the foreign object yourself, using a cotton swab, carefully moving from the outer corner of the eye to the inner.
It is useful for cats with allergies to switch to a monoprotein type of food. This diet contains only one type of protein and is designed to tame the raging body of a pet suffering from allergies. Additionally, you can give your animal salmon oil. This is a storehouse of Omega-6 fatty acids, which alleviates allergies.
If the cat has an acute respiratory infection
Like many people, furry pets with weakened immune systems can also develop acute respiratory disease (ARI). An animal can simply freeze in the cold season and catch a cold. And at the same time, one of the symptoms is often increased lacrimation. In addition to crying, the animal will most likely also:
► sneeze and cough;
►feel lethargic, exhausted and sleepy;
► eat less, refuse food;
► and the cat’s nose will be hot to the touch.
A cold can be accompanied by conjunctivitis, and sometimes calcivirosis, mycoplasmosis, herpes, which will significantly complicate the course of the disease.
ARI in cats is not dangerous for people; it is impossible to become infected with it. But other pets living in your home can catch the infection from a sick cat.
If your cat has an acute respiratory infection and he flatly refuses to eat, before visiting the doctor, at least try to give him water with a syringe.
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