We found a kitten out in our yard; its eyes are goopy and stuck together. Also it sounds like it has wetness in its chest. Could it be distemper?
By muffin from Paso Robles, CA
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For the chest, I'm not sure.
But for the eyes, all cats get a fair amount of eye mucus. Adult cats clean it away, and you never notice. Kittens don't know how to clean themselves properly, and if they don't have a mother to do it for them, mucus can build up. In many cases, this goes so far as to form a crust and seal the eyes shut.
A warm wet cloth can be used to clean this gunk away. Better yet, a tea bag. The bag acts like a sponge, holding moisture, and the tea makes the water very mildly acidic, which helps with the cleaning process, without going so acidic as to be harmful. Dispose of the teabag after each use.
However, it's also possible for a kitten to have an actual eye infection. This is something best left to a vet.
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