need advice from cat owners

[radar19]

I'm looking after my Auntie and Uncles cats for two weeks but this afternoon I came across one of those cats that had his left eye shut that was watering slighty. Now he's eating fine and not bumping into things, he seems he's normal boystrus self.

This morning when I fed all of them, he was fine. I come to feed them in the evening, I find him on top of a kitchen cupboard with one eye half closed.

To describe it, its like when you get an irritated eye, you half close it. He can open it and for the brief period when he does that, it looks normal, no redness that I can personally see.

Trouble is, I have no money for a vet bill and the cat doesnt trust me enough to force him into a cat basket. Its worrying me as the owners are out of the country for another week.

 

[Nix]

Probably scratched it. Try and clean it in the morning as it's bound to get stuck with muck. It should be fine in a day or two. If not, you'll just have to call the vet and ask or wait until your relatives are back.

 

[PieEater]

Our cat regularly rubs one or other eye against something which results in exactly what you are describing, I have no idea why he does it other than it seems to make him happy. I think you're taking your job too seriously and worrying overmuch .....

 

[jumpy]

Most of the time it's either a little bit of dirt or other irritation.
Sometimes it can be a minor infection of the other eyelid thing that cats have; in which case it's a trip to the vets where you'll most likely have to get some eye drops, same type they give for humans iirc (or almost identical).
Not expensive for the drops ('bout 6 quid last time I had to get some for my cat), but the consultation will probably sting you for about 25 quid.

Chances are that it will clear up by itself in a few days. If it seems to persist longer than that (like into next week proper), take the little bugger to the vet.

 

[Dandle]

Yeah watery eye happens from time to time. As above probably a scratch, you will see if its bothering the cat in a day or two.

 

[radar19]

Most of the time it's either a little bit of dirt or other irritation.
Sometimes it can be a minor infection of the other eyelid thing that cats have; in which case it's a trip to the vets where you'll most likely have to get some eye drops, same type they give for humans iirc (or almost identical).
Not expensive for the drops ('bout 6 quid last time I had to get some for my cat), but the consultation will probably sting you for about 25 quid.

Chances are that it will clear up by itself in a few days. If it seems to persist longer than that (like into next week proper), take the little bugger to the vet.

He has been a little bugger He's always beating up his brother. Hopefully it will be gone soon. I dont want to fight him into the cat box.

 

[Rotty]

nothing serious

just keep en eye on it and take to vets if no improvement in 3 or 4 days

 

[radar19]

Our cat regularly rubs one or other eye against something which results in exactly what you are describing, I have no idea why he does it other than it seems to make him happy. I think you're taking your job too seriously and worrying overmuch .....

I'm just paranoid as these cats are my Aunties babies, I dont want anything to happen to them

 

["andy"]

dont worry about it unless it starts to get noticeably worse

cats are bloomin tough things

you'd likely know about it if he was in pain or worried himself about it. all the vet could do is clean it. the cat is probably doing this itself

when my cats (mother and son) fight or play fight they always go at each others eyes. usually ends up with one of them having a balding patch above the eye where it has been rubbing :/

 

[TangoSixteen]

No just leave it, but observe like a hawk incase of any coloured discharge or more serious behavour towards the eye.

Straight to the vets if any of that happens IMO.

 

[SB118]

... in which case it's a trip to the vets where you'll most likely have to get some eye drops, same type they give for humans iirc (or almost identical).
Not expensive for the drops ('bout 6 quid last time I had to get some for my cat), but the consultation will probably sting you for about 25 quid.

"Optrex Infected Eyes", over the counter at the chemist for just over a fiver, same compound as the stuff you'd get from the vet and it saves the consultation fee

 

[danza]

He'll probably be fine. My wife's cat properly tagged my cat in the eye with a claw a while back. He kept his eye closed and when opened, it had gone all cloudy and dilated (I thought 'expensive vet bill time'). Left him to it whilst we were at work that day, and it was almost back to normal by the time we got home.

 

[pcoltrane]

Chloramphenicol drops from a pharmacist .... but if you can't get the cat in a basket - good luck administering eye drops :/

 

[radar19]

Well, last night, about 3:00am time he came in asking for food and the eye was open. Today when I tried to feed him this afternoon the eye was shut again. I'm trying to get in contact with my Aunt to see what she says.

 

[dpbadger]

Should be fine my cat has a poorly eye every so often. I believe it to be when they are play fighting together and one whacks the other in the face.
Dave

 

[jumpy]

"Optrex Infected Eyes", over the counter at the chemist for just over a fiver, same compound as the stuff you'd get from the vet and it saves the consultation fee

Sounds like the stuff I think. Good plan also

Chloramphenicol drops from a pharmacist .... but if you can't get the cat in a basket - good luck administering eye drops :/

I've got a tube from the vet, still. The stuff looks like a grey/white gel. I'll have to check the active ingredients...

EDIT:

Seems like there were two types that I've used in the past - first is the gel on I mentioned above. The second is what you posted Marc:
Chloramphenicol Eye Drops BP
Sterile solution containing Chloramphenicol 0.5% w/v, phenylmercuric nitrate 0.002% w/v, borax, boric acid and purified water.

 

[Nix]

If the eye is weeping from a scratch it will end up crusting itself shut. This happened to one of my cats recently.

Damp a bit of kitchen towel and gently dab around the crust and help open the eyelid. If it gets worse rather than better in a few days time, obviously get to a vet.

 

[SlugForAButt]

If the eye is weeping from a scratch it will end up crusting itself shut. This happened to one of my cats recently.

Damp a bit of kitchen towel and gently dab around the crust and help open the eyelid. If it gets worse rather than better in a few days time, obviously get to a vet.

+1.
Purrfect advice.