Cat Pink Eye

Pink eye is the common name for the disease conjunctivitis, which refers to the inflammation of the conjunctiva. Conjunctiva is the mucous membrane that covers the back of the eyelid and surface of the eyeball. In cats, this membrane is not very prominent under normal conditions. But, when cats are affected by pink eye, their conjunctiva becomes inflamed and red, and quite noticeable. In general, conjunctivitis is not a major cat health problem. But, pink eye can occasionally lead to health complications in cats like, vision problems, especially if left untreated.

Pink Eye Symptoms in Cats

As the name suggest, pink eye manifest itself in a pinkish or reddish conjunctiva, that can look quite prominent. Additionally, it can be accompanied by excessive tearing and eye discharge or secretions. The secretion can be watery or thick. If feline conjunctivitis is caused by infections, then eye discharge will be thick, and yellow or greenish in color. But, if it is caused by noninfectious factors, then the eye discharge will be clear and watery. The thick and pus like eye discharge can crust the eyelids, and cause them to stick together when the eye is closed. In addition to these, some other symptoms are, swollen or inflamed eyelids, pain, protrusion of the third eyelid, blinking, squinting and difficulty in opening the affected eye. All these discomforts can compel the cat to rub its affected eye quite frequently.

Pink Eye Causes in Cats

Mild cases of conjunctivitis in cats can be associated with allergies, presence of foreign particles and irritants in the eyes, and minor trauma. These factors can be termed as the noninfectious causes of conjunctivitis. On the other hand, bacteria, virus and fungi can be the infectious causes of feline conjunctivitis. The infectious agent that is most commonly found to cause this eye infection is a virus, known as feline herpes virus-1. This virus also causes upper respiratory infection in cats, for which pink eye can be sometimes accompanied by symptoms like, sneezing. Apart from virus, bacteria can also cause feline conjunctivitis. There are mainly two types of bacteria, chlamydia and mycoplasma, which can cause pink eye in your feline friends.

Treating Pink Eye in Cats

This condition can be diagnosed with a proper evaluation of the symptoms, and with the help of the culture of the swab collected from the conjunctiva. Treatment for the condition depends on the severity, and the underlying causes. Conjunctivitis caused by bacterial infection can be treated with the appropriate antibacterial eye drops and ointments, as well as the administration of oral antibiotics. Sometimes, the condition can be managed with eye drops and ointments, while at other times, it can require the administration of injections under the conjunctiva. The systematic treatment options available for treating this condition are, injections and oral medications. However, a complete cure is not possible, if pink eye is caused by virus. But, prompt treatment can help to reduce the severity of the condition, and avoid the complications associated with it.

If feline conjunctivitis is mild and caused by foreign particles and allergens, then it can be alleviated by simply irrigating or cleaning the eyes at regular intervals. It is very important to clean the eyes periodically to remove the eye discharge. Use cotton swabs and slightly warm water to gently remove the discharge and loosen the crusted eyelids. Certain home remedies can also be used to treat the mild cases of feline conjunctivitis. Eyebright can be an effective home remedy, which has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Apart from eyebright, herbs like, goldenseal, rosemary, chamomile, calendula and fennel can also prove beneficial for conjunctivitis.

Is Feline Pink Eye Problem Contagious to Humans?

Conjunctivitis in general, is highly contagious, and it can spread from one eye to another and from an infected person to a healthy individual, through direct contact with the eye discharge. Feline conjunctivitis can spread from an infected cat to another cat, and also to a human being. The transmission of the disease from cat to human can take place while cleaning the infected eyes. Many times, the pet owners touch and clean the eyes of their cat, and then touch their own eyes with the same hand. Therefore, it is very important to wash your hands properly, after cleaning or applying medications in the infected eyes of your pet.

To sum up, pink eye is a contagious disease. So, the pet owners need to maintain proper hygiene while treating their pets, so as to prevent the transmission of the disease. At the same time, also make sure that your cats get appropriate treatment for conjunctivitis. Otherwise, the disease can occasionally affect the other parts of the eye. The severe cases of conjunctivitis can lead to complications like, loss of vision or blindness at times. So, be sure to take your cat to a veterinarian as soon as possible, on observing the symptoms of this eye infection.