Kittens and Irritated Eye Membranes

Kittens often have irritation of the eye membranes. This is called conjunctivitis and is caused by inflammation of the membranes surrounding the eye. A major cause of conjunctivitis is infectious organisms that attack the eye.

  1. Causes

    • The feline herpes virus (rhinotracheitis) and chlamydia are two main infectious agents that cause eye irritation. Humans cannot get the feline herpes virus but they can become infected with some types of chlamydia.

    Flare-ups

    • Many times infections become chronic problems. It is difficult to eliminate these infections and, if a cat is stressed, the immune system becomes suppressed. This can cause flare-ups of the disease.

    Signs

    • Irritation of the eye membranes can cause a thick discharge. The kitten may squint and the eye may become painful, especially if the kitten is in bright light.

    Eye Care

    • The eye area should be gently swabbed with a cotton ball soaked in a saline solution (1/4 tsp. of table salt dissolved in 1 cup of warm water). Do not wipe the cotton ball on the eye ball itself. Clean the eye three to four times a day to remove the discharge.

    Treatment

    • Eye drops or ointments can be used to soothe the irritated eye and to treat infections. These will need to be purchased at a veterinarian's office after the veterinarian has examined the kitten.