Help! Kitty has mucky eye!

[bronte73]

When I picked out Oliver, he had a slight discharge in his eyes. I took him to the vet on the way home for his vaccines and to be looked over. The vet thought it would clear up shortly.

Well, first, Oliver had diarhea from a change in food. The vet gave me a 3 day antibiotic and things have finally cleared up on that end. I noticed today he sneezed about 3 or 4 times. But he played all afternoon. He fell asleep about 4:45. He didn't get up until after 9 tonight and when he did his right eye was matted shut. The left eye cleared up, but the right eye has had a bit of gunk in it that I wash away with warm water and a wash cloth. I thought it was clearing up, but all of a sudden tonight it is much worse. It looks much worse than the day I got him!! I am worried about him. I am going to call my vet in the morning. Should I have my kids avoid handling him? TIA I guess I am a worry wart. :)

[andreaS15]

Ya, i probably wouldn't have the children touching him to much, hate for it to be something contagious.
Just keep on cleaning it with a damp cloth, and hopefully the Vet can give you something to clear it right up tomorrow.

Good Luck!

[brendal]

Did you get Oliver from a Shelter? My kitty Zena came from a shelter and had discharge in her eyes and sneezed alot (but didn't start until I had her for about 2 weeks) but the vet told me it was Kennel cough and to just keep a good eye on her and make sure she had plenty to drink. She is doing just fine now. If Oliver's head starts drooping get him to the vet ASAP.

[brendal]

ps, if it is kennel cough your kids are fine unless they handle other animals, cause it can be spread to other animals from humans if they have it on their hands, but humans can't catch it. :clown:

[xenya88]

Actually my dog had some discharge and crust around his eye and an animal saline solution worked really well to clear it up(took about a week). We used one with a dog and cat on the label (forget the name sorry). It was readily available at Petland. My friend's cat had a similar situation with pus coming from the eye and it being shut. She used a seeped chamomile tea bag (cooled of course), applying it gently to the eye. Use a fresh one every time and it should also take about a week to work- as it did for her cat. Good luck! :kitty:

[Bingalulu]

I'm surprised your vet didn't diagnose conjunctivitis (a common, low-grade but painful eye infection colloquially known as "pink-eye"). It's easily treated with an antibiotic ointment which you apply to kitty's eyeball, on the tear-duct (nose side of the eye). The ointment is soothing and pleasurable for the cat, so they don't recoil when you apply it. And it works in about a week.

It's true, your kids should probably not touch kitty until his eye problem is resolved (if it's conjunctivitis, people can definitely get it from cats). But again, it's not serious and it's easily treated.

[babybunnie]

my new kitten has the same thing ... but i dont think i can really do anything at this point ... she is 7 wks old ... what age can she go on meds at ? i really dont know cuz my other cat was fine when i got her :p

[bronte73]

and I really didn't do anything for it. It just kind of cleared up on his own. He has been kept away from the kids the last couple days. I just wanted to update you all who were so kind as to answer my post. Now what can you tell me about kitten aggression. Oliver is a sweetie, but when he is in play mode, nothing is safe from his paws! He has also hissed on 3 or 4 seperate occasions when he was startled. Is that normal or is it a sign of worse things to come? TIA for any advice. Right now we are just putting him down or we stop playing with him when he gets too aggressive. Then in a little while I come back with a fishing pole toy and try to redirect his energy. He is already getting bigger!! I can't believe we only got him a week ago!!! :)