Cats have excellent vision and are masters of seeing well at night. They use their eyes to survey the world around them and, sometimes, stare you down if mealtime is late.

Unfortunately, like humans these eyes can get infected. Cat eye infections are often uncomfortable and painful. They need a quick diagnosis to restore good eye health and prevent more serious problems.

What is a Cat Eye Infection?

A cat eye infection is an eye problem caused by infectious agents, such as viruses and bacteria. It can affect one or both eyes.

The symptoms of a cat eye infection resemble those of other eye diseases, such as conjunctivitis (inflammation of the lining of the eye). That makes it difficult for pet parents to know whether their cat has an eye infection or something else.

By performing a comprehensive eye exam, veterinarians can distinguish between an eye infection and other eye diseases. 

Causes of Eye Infections in Cats

Regardless of age or breed, all cats can get an eye infection. Causes of feline eye infections are often viral (like feline calicivirus, feline herpes virus, or feline viral rhinotracheitis). But sometimes, they can also be bacterial.

Non-infectious eye conditions in cats that may look like infections include:

• Trauma
• Allergies
• An eye tumor 
• Conjunctivitis
• A foreign body stuck in the eyedis
• Corneal abnormalities, such as corneal ulcers

Cat Eye Infection Symptoms

Cats prefer to hide symptoms of illness if they can, but eye infection symptoms are hard to hide. If you notice any of the following symptoms, take your cat to your veterinarian for an exam. Eye problems can escalate fast, and prompt veterinary care is key to successful treatment.

• Squinting 
• Cloudy eyes
• Light sensitivity
• Excessive blinking
• Rubbing at the eyes
• Excessive eye watering
• Redness in the whites of the eye
• Discharge from the eye that is thick or discolored (yellow, green)
• Nasal discharge
• Swollen third eyelid (located in the inner corner of the eye)

You may also notice some behavioral changes in your cat. For example, your cat may be less playful and isolate itself from you. Your cat may also become quite moody because their eyes are so uncomfortable.

How to Diagnosis Cat Eye Infections

Eye infections are bothersome to cats. Don’t delay scheduling an appointment with your veterinarian for an exam if your cat is showing any symptoms.

Your veterinarian will want to know the history of your cat’s eye problem. Provide as much information as you can, such as when you first noticed something wrong with your cat’s eyes and what symptoms you have observed.

Your veterinarian will then perform a physical exam and comprehensive eye exam. For the eye exam, they will use an instrument called an ophthalmoscope to examine all parts of your cat’s eyes. They will also perform a few eye diagnostic tests to determine the potential cause of the eye infection.

A fluorescein stain test is usually used to detect damage to the cornea, the clear protective covering of the eye. Your veterinarian will apply the stain to your cat’s cornea, turn off the light and look for a fluorescent green stain. A green stain indicates corneal damage, which could be causing an eye infection. 

Your veterinarian may also perform a Schirmer tear test, where they place a special test strip under the eyelid to test for adequate tear production. They’ll then check the intraocular pressure of each eye, making sure there is not too much pressure build up in the eyeball itself. These tests will help rule out other problems that may be causing symptoms your cat is experiencing.

Your veterinarian will also take a few small samples from the affected eye (skin and discharge) to look for signs of infection with a microscope.

Cat Eye Infection Treatment

You’ll want to start treating your cat’s eye infection as quickly as possible, but only with your vet’s go ahead.

Over-the-counter medications and home remedies for cat eye infections are not always effective and may cause more harm than good. For example, you should never use Neosporin in a cat’s eyes. It is toxic to cats and causes life-threatening allergic reactions. You should never use any product that is not specially formulated for eye (ophthalmic) use.

Your veterinarian will prescribe the most appropriate eye medicine for your cat, according to the underlying cause. Many treatments for eye infections are applied directly to the eye as either an eye drop or ointment. If the infection is severe enough, you may be referred to a veterinarian opthamologist.

Antibiotics are given to treat bacterial eye infections, and antiviral medications will treat viral eye infections.

Surgery is recommended if a foreign body is lodged in the eye or if serious damage to the cornea is present. 

Regardless of an eye infection’s cause, anti-inflammatory eye drops help to relieve pain and discomfort by reducing inflammation. These drops may delay the healing of corneal damage, though, so your veterinarian will examine your cat’s cornea before prescribing eye medicines.

If your cat has a lot of eye discharge, your veterinarian will recommend gently wiping away the discharge with a warm, damp cloth. Fortunately, most eye infections in cats heal well and quickly.

The cost of treating eye infections in cats can vary widely and depends on the cause and severity of the infection. With diagnosis and treatment, the cost of treating an eye infection in cats can cost several hundred dollars.

How to Prevent Cat Eye Infections

There are a few relatively easy things you can do to lessen your cat’s risk of eye infections.

Vaccination can prevent viral eye infections. The FVRCP vaccine, a core vaccine for cats, protects against feline herpesvirus type 1 and feline calicivirus, among other common cat viruses.

Keeping your cat’s nails trimmed is also helpful. Cats’ nails are sharp, so keeping them trimmed will lessen the likelihood of your cat scratching its eyes with its nails.

Conclusion

Eye infections in cats are serious and require prompt veterinary care. If your cat has symptoms of an eye infection, don’t delay in scheduling an appointment for your cat. The sooner your veterinarian can diagnose the infection, the sooner your cat can get the treatment they need for much-needed eye relief.