Mucus-Coated Eyes in a Cat

The eye of a cat is very similar to a human's. It contains a cornea, retina, lens, pupil and an optic nerve. Monitoring your cat's eyes is important because if there is an infection it has to be treated right away. Without treatment the infection may become severe and could result in damage or loss of vision. Eyes that are coated in mucus should never be ignored.

  1. Symptoms

    • Eye mucus looks like a sticky and slimy film that goes over the eye and drains from the eye. The discharge can be clear, white or a yellow-green color. The cat often has its eye shut or partially closed, and won't want anyone touching it. The eye can also be pink or red inside.

    Causes

    • A common cause of eye infections in cats is conjunctivitis. This viral infection is similar to pink eye in humans. This condition causes mucus to cover and drain from the eye, redness and swelling from irritation, and the cat will constantly rub the eye with its paws. Glaucoma and uveitis are other less-likely possibilities that can cause mucus in the eye.

    Treatment

    • For mild cases, eye mucus can be cleaned out by the owner with an over-the-counter eye medication and artificial tears. Do this twice in 24 hours. If the infection doesn't clear up it will be necessary to go to the veterinarian and get an antibiotic or eye drops for the cat. These will need to be applied several times a day until the infection has cleared.

    Prevention

    • Clean out the cat's litter box regularly and keep other sick animals away from healthy cats. Clean any drainage from the cat's eye before it builds up and creates and infection. Practice good hygiene in the home. Other pets living in the home of a cat that is infected should also see a veterinarian.