Emergency — phone the vet now
Within hours
Cat with an eye injury
Squinting, third eyelid showing, discharge, or cloudiness in a cat needs same-day vet review — feline eyes deteriorate quickly.
Recognise the signs
- Squinting, discharge
- Third eyelid (haw) covering part of eye
- Redness, swelling
- Cloudy or ulcerated cornea
- Pawing at face
First aid steps
- Phone the vet — same day.
- Do not flush except with sterile saline or water for chemical exposure.
- Buster collar to prevent rubbing.
- Do not try to remove foreign bodies.
Do NOT
- Do not use human eye drops.
- Do not delay — feline corneal ulcers worsen in hours.
- Do not assume cat flu is mild.
When to phone the vet immediately
- Cloudy eye, deep wound, visible perforation
- Severe pain, distress
- Both eyes affected
Common causes
- Cat fight scratches
- Cat flu (common in kittens)
- Foreign body
- Corneal ulcer
- Chemical splash
- Trauma
What the vet will need to know
- Indoor/outdoor
- Recent fight or trauma
- Any nasal discharge or sneezing (cat flu)
- Vaccination status
Aftercare
- Treatment per cause — drops, antiviral for cat flu, surgery for severe damage.
- Buster collar.
- Frequent rechecks.
Prevention
- Vaccination against cat flu.
- Indoor or supervised outdoor reduces fight injuries.
- Manage chronic dry eye in prone breeds.
Breed-specific notes
- Persians prone to chronic eye disease and tear staining.
Frequently asked questions
What's the third eyelid showing?
Cats have a third eyelid (nictitating membrane) that becomes visible with eye pain, dehydration, or systemic illness.
Can I just use cat-flu drops from the vet from a previous illness?
No — using leftover prescription drops can worsen new conditions. Always re-examine.
How urgent is a cat fight eye scratch?
Same-day vet visit — feline corneal ulcers often need targeted antiviral and antibiotic treatment.