Cat with swollen eye: the causes and remedies


There are many reasons why a swollen eye can occur in cats: here are the possible causes and the most suitable remedies to eliminate the problem.

The swollen eye can be a particularly annoying and painful problem in cats, as well as in some cases representing the symptom of much more serious diseases: for this reason, it is essential to investigate the cause of the swelling as soon as possible and immediately treat the eye involved.

The swollen eye cat may have the problem in only one eye (unilateral swelling) or in both eyes (bilateral swelling): in some cases, the swelling can be so severe that it prevents the cat from opening the eye due to pain, therefore, immediate action must be taken.

The first thing to do is to understand why the cat has swollen eyes, in order to be able to act promptly accordingly: in this article, we find out what are the causes and remedies for the cat’s problem with eye swelling.


Why does the cat have a swollen eye? Possible causes

Conjunctivitis in cats

Cats with red, swollen, and blistering eyes may be suffering from a problem of conjunctivitis: this eye disease is caused by inflammation of the membrane that covers the eye and the inside of the eyelids. In some cases, the swelling causes the phenomenon of the inflamed third eyelid.

Conjunctivitis occurs frequently in younger kittens, but also affects older or adult cats, regardless of breed. Usually the infection is caused by one or more allergic factors, viral or bacterial diseases, trauma and injuries to the eye, hereditary diseases or cancers.

The cat with swollen eyes due to conjunctivitis must be treated immediately, to prevent the situation from worsening also leading to loss of vision: if you notice the symptoms described, take the cat immediately to the vet.

Allergic cat and puffy eyes

In addition to the swollen eye, does the cat also have other symptoms, such as persistent itching in the eye and nose area? We are likely dealing with an allergic cat.

llergy in cats is manifested by a number of symptoms including coughing, sneezing, vomiting and diarrhea, discharge from the nose and mouth. These reactions represent the response of the cat’s immune system to substances or agents that are perceived as harmful.

Usually, cats can have allergies to: plants, fungi, pollen, alcohol, smoke, insecticides, insect bites and some foods. If you notice one or more symptoms in your cat, ask your vet to have him undergo the necessary allergy tests.

Foreign bodies in the cat’s eyes

Just like with a dog’s foreign body, the cat can also have a foreign body in the eye that causes irritation, swelling, excessive tearing and itching.

Prevention is essential against this type of problem : keeping the environment in which the cat lives clean is the first thing to do. If the cat has a swollen eye due to a foreign body, do-it-yourself should be avoided and contact the veterinarian as soon as possible.

Uveitis in cats: causes, symptoms and treatment

A cat with a closed eye due to swelling may have a problem with uveitis, an inflammation of the uvea that is particularly common among felines of all ages. The uvea is the membrane that protects the eye and is responsible for the proper lubrication of the eyeball.

Usually uveitis is one of the consequences of some serious cat diseases, such as FIV (Feline Viral Immunodeficiency) or FeLV (Feline leukemia), but there are also cases of inflammation due to trauma and accidents with wounds inside the eye.

The most obvious symptom of uveitis is a cat with a swollen eye so much that it has to be closed due to the pain and hypersensitivity to light caused by the inflammation. In very severe cases, it is possible for the cat’s eye to change color, stain and become dull.
If there are any symptoms, the cat should be taken to the vet immediately.

Cats and corneal ulcer

If the cat has swollen, closed and red eyes, it is likely that there is a corneal ulcer: this internal eye injury can arise from untreated conjunctivitis, a herpes virus infection or injury. .

The most frequent symptoms of ulcer in cats are: excessive tearing, photophobia, itching, visible third eyelid, secretions and ulcers. These symptoms are a very urgent alarm bell: the cat must be referred immediately to a visit to the vet.


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