Cat Health: Eye Discharge
The eyes of your cats are a very good indicator of his health. His eyes should be bright, clear, and clean. They should be open wide, not partially closed. A small bit of mucus accumulated in the corner of the eye is not uncommon and usually not a concern. However, sometimes with cat health, eye discharge can be a symptom of something more serious.
There a variety of things that may cause discharge from your cat's eyes. A small amount of discharge is not uncommon. Just like in humans, cats can awaken with "sleepers" in their eyes. Usually these are insignificant. If you can easily wipe them away (gently!) and they don't reappear or build up during the day, then there is generally no cause for concern.
Some cats have a genetic anomaly called entropion. This is when their eyelid is abnormally turned causing the lashes to brush against the eye. This can irritate the eye and lead to an infection and some discharge.
Allergies can also be a cause of eye discharge in your cat. Discharge in the eyes due to allergies is usually clear and watery. When the discharge is due to allergies your cat's eyes may also be red and he may be scratching himself a lot.
Sometimes discharge from your cat's eye can be a symptom of a more serious medical issue. The discharge may be thick, watery, or bloody. As a rule of thumb, the greater the amount of discharge means a more serious condition. The onset of an unusual discharge may be gradual or it may start suddenly.
If the consistency of the discharge is thick, and it is grayish, green, or yellow in color, that is often an indication that there is an infection. The eyelids may become crusty as well. Eye infections in cats are not uncommon. If the cornea gets scratched, or a foreign object becomes lodged in your cat's eye, it can result in an infection.
If your cat's eyes are runny it may be due to feline respiratory disease. In this instance the discharge is often watery at first but can become thick as the infection worsens.
It is generally a good idea to have any cat health eye discharge problems evaluated by your veterinarian to determine both the underlying cause and the best course of treatment. Hydrocortisone, which is an anti-inflammatory medication, may be used to treat allergy symptoms. Infections may require treatment with antibiotics and / or eye ointments. Again, early treatment can prevent more serious issues and costly vet bills.