Why does a cat have watery eyes?
A healthy cat’s gaze should be clear and clean. But what if you notice that your pet is often squinting, blinking, or he has watery eyes? Alexander Alyasov, an expert and manager of scientific communications at Royal Canin, will tell you about why cats have “flowing” eyes and in what cases it is impossible to postpone a visit to a veterinarian.
Wet eyes are not always a sign of illness. For some breeds, lacrimation is in the order of things. These include cats of the brachycephalic type, which have a flat and short muzzle – for example, Persian and other exotic breeds.
One of the common reasons for the sudden appearance of discharge from the eyes is the ingress of dust, debris, which provoke tearing, irritating the mucous membranes. If you notice that the cat’s eyes have begun to water more often than usual, examine them at home: if the discharge is transparent, while there is no redness, swelling and swelling, there is no serious cause for concern, sign up for a routine examination with a veterinarian. Treat your pet’s eyes yourself with a neutral product that is right for him. But you do not need to use tea leaves for this purpose.
Lachrymation is also an age symptom. It is considered normal if the eyes watery in small kittens (from 2 weeks to 2 months) and in older cats over 8 years old. At the same time, in both adult cats and kittens, the appearance of “flowing” eyes can indicate a decrease in immunity, so it is necessary to consult a veterinarian and conduct an examination to rule out more serious problems.
Infections and bacterial diseases
If pathogenic agents (viruses, infections, fungi) enter the lacrimal ducts, “current” eyes may be a symptom of a developing disease that requires mandatory diagnosis. Lacrimation in diseases begins abruptly: at first, the discharge may be transparent, and later become purulent and acquire a brownish tint. As a rule, the cat may show other symptoms of the disease: sneezing, refusal to eat, general lethargy. If you notice them with your pet, you should immediately contact a specialist.
Another possible cause, not related to infections, is allergies. It can be caused by any substances in the air or on items for the care and maintenance of the animal (for example, household chemicals that are used to treat accessories or places familiar to the animal. If an allergy occurs, the cat will most likely rub its eyes with its paw. check with your veterinarian to find out which irritant is causing it.
By the way:
From March 18 to April 14, residents of Moscow, St. Petersburg and 11 other cities of our country will be able to take their cats for a free primary veterinary examination. And residents of all of Russia will have access to free online consultations with veterinarians. Royal Canin’s Cat Does Not Have 9 Lives project was created to overcome the problem of absence or irregular and untimely medical examination of domestic cats.
To get the opportunity to undergo a free veterinary examination, you must go to the cat’s health website. рф and download a coupon that entitles you to enroll in any of the more than 140 clinics participating in the initiative. For those who are not ready to go to the clinic and for all Russians in general, there is an opportunity for an online consultation with a professional veterinarian using the Petstory service.
According to Royal Canin, nearly one in two cats (over 40%) have health problems that require treatment. However, in our country, the culture of preventing the health of pets is not sufficiently developed: more than two-thirds of cat owners in Russia ignore preventive examinations of their pets. And 5% of domestic cats have never visited a doctor at all. At the same time, many diseases diagnosed in the early stages can be quickly and effectively treated. In order for the cat to remain active and healthy throughout its life, Royal Canin experts recommend visiting a doctor for a preventive examination at least once a year. Elderly cats over 7 years old should be examined by a doctor at least twice a year.