Cats with Tear Stains: Causes and Solutions Explained

Section 1: Causes and Treatment Methods for Cats Developing Tear Stains

1. Excessive salt content or high oil levels in a cat's diet can lead to the appearance of tear stains. Since cats primarily rely on their sweat glands to excrete salt, and their sweat glands are not welldeveloped, consuming highsalt foods can easily cause them to overheat, leading to tear stains. If a cat's tear stains are due to this reason, pet owners can address the issue by improving the cat's diet. This involves maintaining a light and lowsodium diet, opting for lowsalt cat food as the main staple, avoiding feeding human food, and ensuring the cat drinks plenty of water.

2. Obstructed tear ducts in cats can cause tear stains, along with frequent watering of the eyes. If the obstruction is severe, pet owners should promptly take their cat to a veterinarian for tear duct疏通 surgery. Typically, after surgery, the cat's tear stains will improve. Pet owners should then regularly clean the cat's eyes and schedule followup appointments.

3. Cats may develop tear stains due to infectious diseases. For instance, conjunctivitis caused by feline herpesvirus infection can lead to excessive tear stains. After infection, cats may experience frequent tears, along with yellow or green eye discharge, sneezing, and coughing. In such cases, the cat's tear glands are more susceptible to infection, leading to abnormal secretion and the formation of tear stains. Pet owners should seek immediate medical treatment for their cat and ensure the cat stays warm during treatment to prevent colds that could prolong the healing process.

Dr. Oxygen Pet Tips: In daily life, pet owners should regularly clean and care for their cat's eyes, maintain a light diet, and monitor their cat's water intake to effectively reduce the occurrence of tear stains. We hope all loving pet owners take good care of their cats and take preventive measures.