Cat Eye Discharge: Can It Heal on Its Own? What to Do?

It's important to note that a cat's eyes often won't heal on their own when they have pus in them; prompt attention and treatment are necessary.

Typically, a cat's eyes may produce pus due to injuries or infections, such as conjunctivitis, keratitis, or corneal ulcers. If left untreated, these conditions can worsen and may even lead to chronic inflammation.

What Are the Common Causes of a Cat's Eye Pus?

1. Bacterial Infections: Staphylococcus aureus is a primary cause of cat purulent conjunctivitis. This bacterium can infect various parts of the eye, including the tear ducts, eyelids, conjunctiva, and cornea, and can also lead to skin and soft tissue infections. Other bacteria, such as Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Escherichia coli, and Enterobacteriaceae, are also associated with feline conjunctivitis.

2. Viral Infections: Feline Herpesvirus (FHV1) and Feline Calicivirus are the most common causes of eye discharge in cats, often accompanied by upper respiratory symptoms like sneezing and runny nose. Mycoplasma and Chlamydia can also produce similar symptoms.

3. Fungal Infections: While systemic fungal infections are rare in cats, infections like cryptococcosis, mucorosis, and blastomycosis can lead to eye complications, such as retinal detachment, uveitis, and iridocyclitis.

4. Allergic Reactions: Allergies can also cause a cat's eyes to produce pus, usually triggered by environmental factors or contact allergens.

5. Mechanical Damage: Mechanical injuries, such as foreign bodies entering the eye or physical trauma, can also lead to purulent conjunctivitis.

While mild eye inflammation caused by bacterial infections may resolve on its own, inflammation due to viruses, fungi, or recurrent allergies is less likely to heal without treatment.

Moreover, cats with weakened immune systems, such as kittens, older cats, or those with other illnesses, have a lower chance of selfhealing and should be treated promptly.

What to Do When a Kitten's Eyes Have Pus?

1. Gently clean the kitten's eyes with saline solution or a petspecific eye care solution to remove the puslike discharge.

2. For bacterial infections, after clearing the eye discharge, use Beramycin (neomycin sulfate eye drops) three to five times a day, one to two drops per application.

3. Encourage the kitten to drink plenty of water and avoid feeding it too much dry, hot, or greasy food.

4. As a pet owner, maintain a clean environment to prevent dust, hair, smoke, and other irritants from刺激ing the kitten's eyes. Also, try to minimize allergens in the environment.

5. If home remedies do not work, it's crucial to seek veterinary care immediately. The vet will determine the type of infection and prescribe the appropriate medication. For mycoplasma and chlamydia infections, tetracycline eye drops may be used. For herpesvirus infections, eye drops containing acyclovir or ganciclovir are recommended. Fungal infections require antifungal medications like itraconazole or ketoconazole. Allergic conjunctivitis can be treated with hydrocortisone acetate eye drops or tobramycindexamethasone eye ointment.

Remember: The longer a cat's eye inflammation persists and the more severe the symptoms, the lower the chance of selfhealing. Therefore, early detection and treatment of pusfilled eyes are vital. In severe cases, surgical interventions like superficial keratectomy, partial corneal transplant, or corneal flap removal may be necessary.