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Is it normal for kittens to have eye discharge?

Author

Emma Martin

Published Mar 02, 2026

Is it normal for kittens to have eye discharge?

Eye Discharge Causes A healthy cat’s eyes should be bright and clear. Feline upper respiratory infections. A frequent cause of eye discharge in cats, these can include viruses such as feline calicivirus, a contagious respiratory disease, pneumonitis or rhinotracheitis (herpesvirus), bacteria, and protozoa.

What causes a kittens eye to weep?

Some of the causes of increased tear production in cats include conjunctivitis (viral or bacterial), allergies, eye injuries, abnormal eyelashes (distichia or ectopic cilia), corneal ulcers, eye infections, anatomical abnormalities such as rolled in eyelids (entropion) or rolled out eyelids (ectropion), and glaucoma.

How do I clear my cats eye discharge?

What You Can Do

  1. If your cat allows it, you can try to wipe the eyes clean of the discharge with a moistened cotton ball using a fresh cotton ball for each eye.
  2. Avoid using over the counter eye drops on your cat unless a veterinarian specifically instructs you to do so.
  3. Observe your cat for other symptoms of illness.

Will a kitten’s eye infection go away on its own?

A cat’s eyes are beautiful, expressive, and provide important indicators when they aren’t feeling well. Eye infections in cats are very common, with some infections easily clearing up on their own, and some showing signs of a more serious illness.

How do you unblock a cat’s tear duct?

Surgery may be used to enlarge the opening to the duct, remove tumors that are compressing the duct, or remove foreign bodies from the duct. In more severe cases, a stent may be placed to allow flow through the lacrimal duct.

Should I clean my cat’s eye boogers?

A cat’s eyes should be cleaned daily if the crusty secretions form; if you do not notice anything in particular, it is sufficient to cleanse them twice a week, in order to keep them healthy. If the crusty secretions are accompanied by swelling, severe tearing and redness of the eye, it could be conjunctivitis.

Can I use Neosporin on kittens eyes?

Many over the counter first aid treatments or medications could cause your cat to experience serious, or even life-threatening side effects. Today our Charlotte vet explains why you should never use Neosporin to treat your cat’s eye infection.

Should you wipe cat’s eyes?

A cat’s eyes should be cleaned daily if the crusty secretions form; if you do not notice anything in particular, it is sufficient to cleanse them twice a week, in order to keep them healthy.

Why does my white cat get black eye boogers?

Feline upper respiratory infections Symptoms can include a sticky pus-like eye discharge. And your cat eye discharge may look black. More importantly, these infections are highly contagious amongst cats so the virus needs to be kept under control.

How do you treat a baby kitten with eye infection?

Treatment of Eye Infection in Newborn in Cats A topical antibiotic ointment will likely be prescribed by the veterinarian, to be put directly in the infected eye for one to two weeks.

Can you put Neosporin on kittens eyes?