When Your Cat's Eyes Are Trying to Tell You Something
A cat's eyes are remarkably expressive, and when something is wrong, they rarely stay quiet about it. Whether you've noticed a crust forming in the corner of your cat's eye each morning, caught them squinting in discomfort, or spotted a worrying haziness developing over the iris, these signs are worth paying attention to. Eye problems in cats range from minor irritations to conditions that can threaten vision if left unaddressed.
Understanding what different symptoms typically indicate helps you make faster, better decisions about your cat's care.
Types of Eye Discharge and What They Mean
Not all discharge is the same, and the consistency, colour and quantity of what you're seeing gives important clues about what's happening beneath the surface.
Clear or Watery Discharge
A small amount of clear discharge, particularly first thing in the morning, is fairly normal for many cats. However, when watery discharge becomes persistent or copious, it often points to an irritant in the environment — dust, smoke, pollen — or the early stages of an infection. Allergies are another common culprit, particularly in cats exposed to new cleaning products, air fresheners or changes in their bedding.
Yellow or Green Discharge
This is where attention becomes more urgent. Yellow or green discharge almost always indicates a bacterial component, either as a primary infection or secondary to a viral illness. Cats with upper respiratory infections — particularly those caused by feline herpesvirus or calicivirus — frequently develop thick, coloured discharge from one or both eyes. This type of discharge can crust over, sealing the eye shut if not cleaned regularly.
Brown or Rust-Coloured Staining
Sometimes mistaken for dirt, brownish staining around the inner corners of the eyes is often caused by epiphora — an overflow of tears down the face. This can result from blocked tear ducts, shallow eye sockets in flat-faced breeds like Persians and Exotic Shorthairs, or chronic low-grade irritation. While the staining itself is cosmetic, the underlying cause usually warrants investigation.
Why Is My Cat Squinting?
Squinting — medically referred to as blepharospasm — is one of the clearest signs that a cat is experiencing eye discomfort. Cats do not squint without reason. If your cat is holding one eye partially or fully closed, something is causing pain or irritation.
Common causes include a scratch on the cornea, which can happen during play or when navigating through dense foliage. Corneal ulcers, which are essentially open sores on the surface of the eye, are particularly painful and can develop quickly. Foreign bodies such as grass seeds or dust particles are another frequent trigger, especially in cats who spend time outdoors.
Uveitis — inflammation inside the eye — also causes squinting and is associated with several systemic conditions including feline leukaemia virus (FeLV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and toxoplasmosis. This is why a veterinary examination is important when squinting persists beyond 24 hours or is accompanied by other symptoms.
Understanding Cloudiness in the Eye
A cloudy appearance in a cat's eye can affect the cornea, the lens, or the fluid within the eye itself, and each location points to different underlying conditions.
Corneal Cloudiness
If the surface of the eye looks bluish, white or hazy, this often indicates corneal oedema — swelling of the cornea caused by injury, infection or elevated pressure within the eye. Corneal sequestrum, a condition seen particularly in Persian and Himalayan cats, causes a distinctive dark brown or black plaque to form on the cornea and requires veterinary treatment.
Lens Cloudiness and Cataracts
Cloudiness within the lens itself typically indicates cataracts, a condition most commonly associated with ageing or diabetes mellitus in cats. Some degree of lens cloudiness is normal in older cats through a process called nuclear sclerosis, which gives the lens a slightly grey appearance without significantly affecting vision. A vet can distinguish between the two during an examination.
Glaucoma
Increased pressure within the eye — glaucoma — can cause the entire eye to appear enlarged, red or cloudy. It is extremely painful and can cause permanent vision loss within hours if not treated promptly. If your cat's eye looks noticeably larger than the other, or appears bloodshot alongside other symptoms, this constitutes an emergency.
Home Care and When to Seek Help
For minor discharge, gently wiping the area with a clean, damp cotton pad from the inner corner outward can prevent crusting and keep the eye more comfortable. Never use the same pad on both eyes, as cross-contamination can spread infection. Saline solution or purpose-made cat eye wipes are suitable for this purpose.
You should contact your vet if:
- Squinting or discharge lasts more than 24 to 48 hours
- Discharge is yellow, green or thick in consistency
- The eye appears cloudy, enlarged or bloodshot
- Your cat is pawing at their eye or rubbing their face
- Both eyes are affected simultaneously
- Your cat seems to be losing their sight or is bumping into objects
Eye conditions in cats can escalate rapidly. A corneal scratch that seems minor can develop into a deep ulcer within days without appropriate treatment. Equally, what appears to be a simple infection may be the first sign of a systemic illness that requires broader investigation. Early veterinary assessment is always the safest path.
Breed Considerations
Flat-faced breeds carry an inherently higher risk of eye problems due to their facial structure. Their shallow eye sockets mean the eyes protrude more, exposing them to greater environmental contact. Their tear ducts are also more likely to be narrow or malformed, leading to chronic overflow and staining. If you share your home with a brachycephalic cat, regular eye monitoring and gentle cleaning should become part of your standard routine.
Keeping an eye — quite literally — on your cat's ocular health is one of the simplest ways to catch problems early. Most conditions respond well to prompt treatment, and your cat will thank you for the swift attention.