Effective Home Remedies to Remove Cat Eye Smudges - Qui

As I recently browsed through cat food cans, I noticed that many brands subtly claim to "remove tear stains," with some even offering "tear stain prescription food!" It's no surprise that the issue of tear stains is a common concern for many cat owners.

So, what should we do as cat parents when faced with our feline friends' tear stains? Should we really invest in these socalled tear stain removal products?

Part 1: Understanding Tear Stains

Firstly, it's important to note that a small amount of eye boogers and tears in cats is normal. This could be due to occasional external irritants, or perhaps the food they've been eating has been particularly greasy, leading to increased eye secretions. In such cases, simply wipe away the excess with a tissue or cotton ball dampened with water. Avoid using your fingers directly to prevent any potential eye injury.

Here are the signs of actual tear stains:

Longterm, large areas of dirt around the eyes

Visible discoloration of the fur under and around the eyes

Longterm dampness under the eyes

Inflammation around the eyes, with or without watery discharge

Part 2: Causes of Tear Stains in Cats

1. Excessive Tear Secretion

Cats naturally produce a small amount of tears to keep their corneas moist. However, when tear production is excessive, it leads to excessive tearing.

Causes of excessive tear secretion include:

Irritants such as smoke, dust, insects, sand, etc.

Allergens like pollen, dust mites, certain foods, etc.

Physical irritants like eye injuries or scratches

Chemical irritants from bathwater, soap, disinfectants, etc.

Conditions like entropion, ectropion, or third eyelid hypertrophy

Infections caused by bacteria or viruses, such as conjunctivitis, keratitis, or blepharitis

2. Obstructed Tear Ducts

The normal flow of tears in cats is: tear glands → eyes → lacrimal ducts → lacrimal sac → nasolacrimal duct → nasal cavity.

When the lacrimal ducts or nasolacrimal ducts become blocked, tears accumulate in the lacrimal sac and then overflow from the corners of the eyes.

Causes of obstructed tear ducts include:

Lacrimal sac inflammation

Tumors

Congenital narrow or underdeveloped nasolacrimal ducts (common in flatfaced cats like Persians and Himalayans)

Inflammation leading to obstruction in the nasolacrimal duct

Nasal inflammation, such as rhinitis or sinusitis

Injuries

Upper respiratory infections (including herpesvirus, mycoplasma, chlamydia, etc.)

Part 3: Tips for Removing Cat Tear Stains

1. Maintain Eye Hygiene

Check for any foreign objects in your cat's eyes, eyes corners, and iris. If there are any, use physiological saline to rinse them out.

Use a mixture of physiological saline and borax water (2:8) to dampen a cotton ball and wipe the tear stain area. Then, dry it with a tissue to help lighten the fur discoloration.

2. Rule Out Underlying Diseases

Take your cat to a veterinarian to rule out issues such as blocked tear ducts, entropion, ectropion, or eye infections.

Bacterial conjunctivitis can be treated with Beramycin (neomycin sulfate eye drops), while viral conjunctivitis can be treated with acyclovir or ganciclovir eye drops.

Conditions like entropion, ectropion, and blocked tear ducts often require surgical intervention.

3. Pay Attention to Daily Care

Avoid feeding foods high in copper, as well as highfat, highsalt, or allergenic foods.

Use a cotton ball dampened with physiological saline to wipe the tear stain area daily, then dry it with a tissue.

If you find it difficult to store opened physiological saline, you can use alcoholfree baby wipes for cleaning.

After cleaning, apply some Vaseline to the tear stain area to separate tears and reduce fur discoloration.