Effective Cat Eye Inflammation Care & Treatment Tips

Upon arriving at their new home, your cat's eyes have unfortunately become inflamed. What should you do?

Generally, mild eye inflammation can be managed at home, but if the condition is severe, it may indicate a viral infection, which would require veterinary attention.

1. Why are cats' eyes prone to inflammation when they first arrive at a new home?

Answer: When a kitten is introduced to a new environment, it can experience stress, which can lead to hormonal imbalances and a weakened immune system. This makes it easier for bacteria and other pathogens to take hold, often resulting in eye inflammation. Stress responses are a common occurrence, and for a more detailed explanation, you can read up on them in the "Introduction to Cat Care" section on our homepage.

2. How can you tell the difference between mild and severe eye inflammation in cats?

Answer: Mild eye inflammation typically results in redness, tearing, and an increase in eye discharge, but it usually doesn't affect the cat's mood or appetite. Treatment with overthecounter eye drops can resolve the issue within a few days. Severe inflammation, however, may cause a cat to have excessive, often reddishbrown discharge, swollen and turnedout eyelids, difficulty opening their eyes, or even complete closure. The cat may also appear listless and have a decreased appetite. This severe condition is often caused by viral infections and requires veterinary consultation and appropriate medication.

Below, I've listed a few eye drops and ointments that I've used in the past. Some are suitable for humans, while others are specifically designed for pets. Since petspecific eye drops may not be readily available, it's a good idea to have some human eye drops on hand at home.

Here are some eye drops and ointments I've used:

Tobramycin (Human Use)

This is a highly safe antibiotic for eye use, available in both eye drop and ointment forms. Tobramycin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic that doesn't contain hormones and has a broad spectrum of activity against Gramnegative and Grampositive bacteria. It's effective for treating acute and chronic bacterial eye infections, including bacterial keratitis, conjunctivitis, blepharitis, dacryocystitis, marginal blepharitis, corneal ulcers, and postoperative infections.

Ofloxacin (Human Use)

This is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic that is twice as effective due to its levorotatory form. Levofloxacin eye drops are used to treat bacterial conjunctivitis and keratitis caused by sensitive bacteria. It has a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity and is effective for treating blepharitis, meibomian glanditis, dacryocystitis, conjunctivitis, meibomian glanditis, and keratitis.

Ribavirin (Human Use)

This is commonly used for eye infections triggered by feline rhinotracheitis. It's suitable for treating simple herpesvirus keratitis. However, it's not recommended for nonviral eye infections, as the cat's rhinotracheitis is primarily caused by the herpesvirus. Ribavirin eye drops are not recommended for longterm use due to potential side effects from longterm, excessive use, such as drug dependence.

Acyclovir/Ganciclovir (Human Use)

This is the firstline medication for feline viral respiratory diseases and a musthave for anyone treating cats. It's used for feline rhinotracheitis caused by herpesviruses, and it can be used for both eyes and noses. Acyclovir eye drops are antiviral medications and are relatively safer than ribavirin.

Chloramphenicol (Human Use)

This is a chloramphenicol antibiotic used primarily for bacterial conjunctivitis eye drops or ointments. It has a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity against Gramnegative and Grampositive bacteria, anaerobic bacteria, rickettsiae, spirochetes, and chlamydiae. However, due to its significant side effects, injectable forms are rarely used. I find that this medication may not be as effective and may have developed resistance after longterm use.

Erythromycin/Gentamicin Eye Ointment (Human Use)

This is suitable for conjunctivitis, blepharitis, and external eye infections. Since it's not in liquid form, it can be a bit麻烦 to apply. You can hold the cat still, pull the upper and lower eyelids apart, and squeeze a centimeter of the ointment onto the eye. Then, use your fingers to open and close the eyelids to distribute the medication evenly. Since there's a foreign object in the eye, the cat may be uncomfortable and scratch at its eyes. Therefore, it's essential to use an Elizabethan collar when applying ointments.

Pfizer Eye Ointment (Pet Use)

This is used for various corneal and conjunctival inflammations, injuries, excessive tearing, redness, and postsurgical eye inflammation in cats and dogs. It's particularly beneficial for the eye care of newborn kittens and puppies. Pfizer eye ointment is widely used in veterinary eye care and has a good reputation for its effectiveness.

MaxiGan 0.15 (Pet Use)

This is primarily used for eye infections triggered by feline rhinotracheitis. It's suitable for treating conjunctivitis, conjunctival redness, excessive discharge, purulent closure, red circles around the eyes, and uneven eyes. It can also be used for continuous sneezing, yellow nasal discharge, difficulty breathing, and bleeding from the nasal passages caused by feline rhinotracheitis. Since the primary cause of feline rhinotracheitis is the herpesvirus, it should be used in conjunction with other medications and not for more than 14 days.

There are many other eye drops and ointments available, but it's best not to overuse them. Different eye drops have different mechanisms of action, so it's important not to mix them without proper intervals to avoid adverse reactions.