Cat With Eye Discharge

I have found 4 very young kittens that have crusty eyes (nearly closed from the gunk). I think the irritation is from gnats, as there are a lot swarming. Can someone help me to treat their eyes? They are not mine and I can't afford a vet, but don't want to see them suffering.

By Nelwyn from Bunkie, LA

Answers: Cat With Eye Discharge

Read answers for this question below.

By 05/06/2010

Terramycin eye ointment is available from valleyvet.com (click on cats) It costs about $11.00. Good luck.

By 05/05/2010

I had a a little dog with the same problem. But he was diagnosed with seasonal conjuctivitis. I went to my local doctor and got some prescribed drops. The doctor said they won't hurt him. A vet maybe able to help you being as they are not yours. I know I got some oily drops from vet and he charged me $20.00. No harm in going and asking the vet. Remember they do have a heart, they work with this sort of thing everyday.

By 05/04/2010

Do what Glensmon said (the Terramycin ointment). She knows what she's talking about from experience, & the Terramycin is safer. If you can't get the Terramycin ointment at one vet, try another. Each vet has their own "rules". They also sell it at Feed Stores if you have one near by.

My advice would only be a last alternative if you simply can not get the Terramycin Ointment.

My neighbor successfully treated a stray cats eye infection with Neosporin Ointment. You'd want the ointment & not the cream! Also, you would never use the Neosporin "plus" because it has an extra ingredient that's not good for their eyes. Never buy the Dollar Store brand of Neosporin as you never know what you get in the stuff that comes from China (a store-brand of Neosporin is okay). Neosporin won't hurt them if used only once or twice, I have used it to treat infection in my own eye & also to treat an eye infection in my horse's eye.

But these are little, tiny newborns, so Neosporin Ointment may be a bit harsh for them. You may want to first call your local "Humane Society" because they may treat them for free, especially if you tell them they are strays.

Can't you have whoever owns them bring them inside away from the flys & gnats? They are too young for a flea collar, but if you put a flea collar on the mama-cat it may help keep the gnats & fly's away from the kittens. Call a vet & ask about the flea collar & at what age one can be used.

This may not be an infection, but more of an "irritation". In that case you would not need to use Neosporin & could just wash their eyes out with a saline solution made for eyes, from the drug store. Do not use Visine & be sure not to touch the kitten's eye with the bottle of saline. Because if there is an infection, that can spread the infection from one eye to another, or from one kitten to another & be sure you wipe their eyes with a very clean cloth. I would use a soft paper towel & wash your hands thoroughly before & after because if it is an infection it can be spread!

By 05/04/2010

Go to your vet and ask for a tube of Terramycin ointment. Don't ask what to do for gunky eyes bacause they will tell you to bring them in. They can't diagnosis without seeing and charging. Wash the eyes from the inside corner to the outside and use a clean cloth for each eye. Old scraps of sheets work well. Just use warm water. Apply a bit of the ointment to each eye a couple of times a day. Thie should really help.

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Cat With Eye Discharge

Can anyone help with cat eye discharge? I have a new cat, he was fine until one week after adoption from the shelter. He has greenish eye discharge. I have taken him to the vet twice.

The things I have tried: antibiotics, eye antibiotic ointment, and keeping it clean. The vet also did an eye stain/scan to make sure there were no injuries, none seen. This has been going on 3 weeks, no other symptoms (no abrasion, bulges, sneezing, and loss of appetite).

By shellstar from TX

RE: Cat With Eye Discharge

This sounds bad, but it works for humans; get a small container (a pill bottle cap, maybe?) just big enough to go around the cat's eye. Put a saline solution (1 c. water to 1/4tsp NON-iodized salt, preferably sea salt) and fill up the small container. Hold it on the cat's eyes for about five minutes twice per day. (09/01/2009)

By abstract_jello

RE: Cat With Eye Discharge

Maybe it needs some eye drops. I made some for my eyes, it helped very much. Boil 1 cup water, add 1/4 teaspoon salt, stir, let cool, put it in the eyes 3 times a day. Hope this helps, good luck. (09/01/2009)

By kffrmw88

RE: Cat With Eye Discharge

I read on ThriftyFun that baby wipes are good for wiping gunk from a dog's eyes. Why don't you try that first? It would be less painful than salt. (09/01/2009)

By MartyD

RE: Cat With Eye Discharge

Salt/saline solution is very good though at disinfecting. It's a commonly accepted treatment for keeping eyes clear and sterile. I think too it could be allergies. A little Children's Benadryl might help as well. (09/02/2009)

By Jron7667

RE: Cat With Eye Discharge

I have several cats and kittens. One has had a runny eye for all her life (1 1/2 years). I just wipe it with a damp soft cloth. Vet stuff didn't clear it up. Not contagious. No clue as to what it is. Only one in litter to have it. Doesn't seem to bother her. So I would suggest just use a soft, damp cloth and keep it clean. (09/03/2009)

By catastrofy

RE: Cat With Eye Discharge

Try rubbing a used tea bag on its eyes daily. We used to do this when we lived out on the farm and it worked. There is something in the tea that pulls the gunk out of their eyes. (09/04/2009)

By Debbyann

RE: Cat With Eye Discharge

Twice our cat has had eye discharge; can't remember if it was greenish or not. After washing my hands, I have wiped his eye with a wet, warm cotton ball. I hold it under warm water. I discard that ball and use a second, clean, warm one to wipe it again. That took care of the discharge. The cat does not mind the wiping of his eye because of the warmth of the cotton ball. (09/05/2009)

By carla

RE: Cat With Eye Discharge

Go to the drugstore or Walmart. Buy L-Lysine tablets (500 mg). Crush a couple of them up. Each time you feed him, sprinkle some on his wet food (like one or two pinches). This usually cures what ails them, from runny noses to runny eyes, also helps with appetite. (If you have a cat/kitten you have to syringe-feed, mix some in with the food.)

Always offer the food in a dish first to see if they'll eat on their own, but if they won't eat, syringe-feed. The shelter I volunteer for uses it all the time. Won't hurt them at all, and 99% of the time, helps them. Try it. L-Lysine is pretty cheap too. People use it for cold sores/fever blisters and just as a supplement. (09/05/2009)

By ahastings7878

RE: Cat With Eye Discharge

I agree with a previous post that allergies could be a possibility. I have 2 cats with outdoor allergies. I know it sounds crazy but one was so severe that she needs seasonal allergy shots. The other feline was just a few days old and started to sneeze. He was the only one who did. He still sneezes a lot and has the runny eye (over a year now). We do the baby Benadryl and keep his eyes clean. He's an outdoor kitty in the country. (09/09/2009)

By especielle