Cat Chat Feline Forum

One of my cat's eyes is half-closed and in the morning when he wakes up there's a slight discharge from it. He doesn't seem to be in discomfort. Could I treat this myself, or is it likely to be serious?

Any advice very gratefully received,

John

hi, my cat Scooby had this problem two weeks ago, I bathed it in cooled boiled water and it cleared up within 2 days. hope this helps dean.

thanks dean. Did you apply the water with anything e.g. cotton wool?

john

yes cotton wool hope this helps. dean

Thanks very much, I'll try it in a minute,

john

It's worth giving it a clean, but do keep a close eye on it and take him to the vet if it starts to look red and sore, it's not wise to take chances with eyes. The vet would probably prescribe chloramphenicol for an eye infection (just in case you have a tube handy).

Thanks Crewella, I've cleaned Jordi's eye and if it's still half-closed tomorrow I'll take him to the vet,

John

I agree with Helen, although my vet usually tries Fucithalmic first. I would always recommend a vet looking at eye problems, but at a push, you can buy Optrex infected eye from the chemist. It is Chloramphenicol - and at the same concentration used on animals. It is kept in the fridge in chemists and needs to be kept chilled. It costs about £5

Apparently there can be complications with cats with Chloramphenicol - http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?A=624" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks Mark, that's interesting. I wonder if there is any difference when not dosed orally.

Not sure Helen. It does make me a bit wary though.

I just googled and found this. Sounds quite scary http://csu-cvmbs.colostate.edu/vth/Docu ... halmic.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thank you for all advice, Jordi's eye has healed up well with daily bathing

John

Re toxic products, I bought some anti-bacterial floor wipes the other day and just happened to read the small print, which said not to allow cats to walk on any surface that had been wiped with them until it was dry, as if they walked on a still-damp surface and then licked their paws they'd be likely to be poisoned.
I found that quite scary, as I wouldn't normally read small print when using a piece of cloth! You have to be on the alert these days, as innocent-seeming names may disguise toxic content.

I am careful about using antibacterial floor wipes these days. I used to use them all the time. Now I buy regular floor wipes in B&M. I tried to find some in Tesco this week, but they were all antibacterial.

http://www.bmstores.co.uk/products/wood ... 0pk-293084" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I also use Byotrol kitchen spray. Pets at Home and Petface (Sold in Sainsbury's) do a Byotrol spray which is apparently safe for cats - it is £4. However, Tesco own kitchen spray is Byotrol and only about 85p - I have been using it for about a year now http://www.byotrol.co.uk/tesco.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That's good to know, Mark. You're clearly clued-up on the issue

John

My local pet shop round the corner actually sells all that kind of stuff, of which I am grateful. I buy the wipes and washing up liquid for when I need to clean out my cats bowls and wipe down the desk and dining room table as she likes to lay on them to get her daily dose of sun. They are expensive though so when I don't have any I shut her out the room I'm cleaning until everything is dried out. Much to her indignation

My cat has discharge in her left eye most days and I just wipe it with cotton wool and water, her eye is fine otherwise but I keep an eye on it (no pun intended), I wonder why she get's this though?