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• Part 1 of 3: Examining a cat's eyes for an infection
• Part 2 of 3: Treating an eye infection at home
• Part 3 of 3: Treating an eye infection medically

Healthy eyes are important to a cat's overall health, and as a cat owner, it is important to check your cat's eyes regularly. Knowing what to look for and what to do if you think your cat has an infection is important to prevent long-term problems with your cat's eyes. Detecting the problem early can help you decide if you can treat the problem at home or if you need to go to the vet. When in doubt, always seek the help of a veterinarian as some problems can be dangerous and cause your cat to lose sight in one eye or the eye itself.

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Part 1 of 3: Examining a cat's eyes for an infection

1. Watch for the symptoms of an eye infection. Watch for signs that your cat has a problem with its eyes. Your cat may have one or more of the following symptoms:
   • Blink or close the eye. This is not normal and indicates that the eye hurts or feels uncomfortable. It could be the result of an infection due to an injury (such as a scratch in the eye), increased pressure in the eye, a foreign object under the eyelid, or inflammation in the eye.
   • Swollen eyelids. This goes without saying, but swollen, thick eyelids certainly indicate that something is wrong. Usually it is an injury, infection or allergy.
   • Pus that comes out of sight. All cats have some mucus in the inner corner of the eye, especially if they have just woken up and haven't washed yet. Normal mucus is usually transparent or reddish brown in color. When the slime comes into contact with the air it dries out and turns reddish brown in color, which is normal. Yellow or green pus coming out of the eye is a sign of an infection.
   • Inflamed whites of the eyes. The whites of the eyes should be plain white. If it's pink and you can clearly see the blood vessels running, something isn't right. This could be a sign of an allergy, an infection or glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye).
   • A dull or blurry eye. A healthy eye has a highly reflective surface and when you look closely, the reflections have smooth edges and the light is not refracted. If you look at the surface of the eye and it is so dim that almost nothing is reflected in it or the reflections are interrupted and out of focus, then something is wrong. This could indicate a dry eye (there is not enough tear fluid) or a growth on the surface of the eye.
2. Examine your cat's eyes in bright light. Check your cat's eyes in bright light if you think there may be a problem. Identify the eye with something wrong by comparing both eyes and writing down which eye something is wrong. Examine the affected eye closely and remember what you see, such as the color of the pus, inflamed whites of the eyes, sensitivity, etc.
3. Determine if you need to take your cat to the vet. Some infections cannot be treated at home and will need to be treated by the vet. Have your cat examined by the vet if they have any of the following symptoms:
   • Visible discomfort (closing the eye)
   • Yellow or green pus
   • Dull eye surface
   • Enlarged blood vessels on the surface of the eye

Part 2 of 3: Treating an eye infection at home

1. Remove pus from the eye. If your cat has watery eyes or pus from the eyes, wipe away the moisture and mucus with a damp cotton ball. Do this as often as necessary. In cats with a severe infection, it may mean that you have to do this every hour.
   • Pat the eye dry afterwards.
   • Pick up a new piece of cotton wool when the old piece gets dirty. Use a separate piece of cotton wool for both eyes.
2. Be extra careful with a kitten's eyes. In kittens with an eye infection, the eyelids are often held together by the pus that comes out of the eyes. It's important to clean their eyes as the infection behind the eyelids can get worse and cause blindness.
   • Once the eyelids are together, soak a clean cotton ball in some boiled and cooled water. Wipe the eye with the damp cotton ball several times, wiping from the inner corner to the outer corner. At the same time, use your finger and thumb of your other hand to apply light pressure on the upper and lower lids to gently pull them open.
3. Avoid getting irritants in your cat's eyes. Trim long hair hanging from the eyes and keep your cat's muzzle clean. It's also a good idea not to use aerosol sprays near your cat. His eyes are very sensitive and the mist can cause his eyes to water.

Part 3 of 3: Treating an eye infection medically

1. Keep a close eye on your cat's vaccinations. You may be surprised, but vaccinations can prevent some eye infections. Cat flu and chlamydia are two common causes of eye infections that can be prevented through vaccinations.
2. Take your cat to the vet so the infection can be examined and treated. An eye infection is usually caused by bacteria or a virus. A viral eye infection usually clears up on its own as your cat's immune system fights the infection. A bacterial eye infection is treated with antibiotics in the form of eye ointment or eye drops.
   • Viruses that can infect the eye include the herpes virus and the calicivirus. Some vets prescribe topical antibiotics even if they suspect a viral infection. Such an infection can also involve bacteria that can aggravate the infection and cause secondary infections.
   • The bacteria that can grow in the eye and cause infection include staphylococci, E. coli, proteus, and pseudomonas. It is very important to always wash your hands thoroughly after handling a sticky-eyed cat as these infections can spread.
3. Give your cat his medication according to the vet's instructions. Depending on the composition, antibiotics should be administered twice a day to once every hour. Oral antibiotics are usually not prescribed for eye infections unless it is not possible to use ointment because the cat will not allow it.
   • The treatment usually lasts at least 5 days and the treatment should not be stopped earlier because the bacteria can then become resistant to the antibiotics.