Help, I'm worried about my cat and need some advice. Last night, I noticed that she's squinting her left eye a lot, and it looks watery. When I got a closer look, I saw that the whites of her eye have a pinkish hue, which I’m guessing isn’t normal. I’ve heard of pinkeye in humans, but I didn’t think cats could get it too. I’m also worried it might be a scratch since she's always batting at everything that moves. Her other eye seems perfectly fine, and she's behaving normally otherwise. She’s eating and playing, so I don’t think she’s in pain, but I want to be sure I'm not overlooking something serious. I can’t get her to the vet for a couple of days due to my work schedule. Has anyone else experienced something like this with their cat? Any advice on what I can do in the meantime would be really appreciated.
Thanks for your question! It sounds like your kitty might be dealing with a bit of discomfort. Squinting and watery eyes, along with the pinkish hue you're noticing, could be signs of conjunctivitis, also known as pinkeye. This can result from infections, allergies, or irritants like dust or pollen. Another possibility is a scratch on the cornea, which can occur if your cat accidentally injured itself while playing or grooming.
At home, you can try gently wiping the area around the eye with a damp, warm cloth to clear any discharge, making sure you use a separate cloth for each eye to avoid spreading any potential infection. Ensure your cat has a clean and dust-free environment to help alleviate irritation.
Keep an eye on a few things: if your cat's symptoms worsen, such as increased redness, swelling, excessive tearing, or if your cat starts pawing at the eye more often, it's important to get professional advice.
To get a more accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan, I recommend booking a video consult with one of our vets here at Dial A Vet. They can assess your cat's condition more closely and suggest the best next steps.
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