What this means
A cat with a sore eye squints it, half closes it or keeps it shut, and the third eyelid may slide across from the corner. It may rub the eye with a paw or drag its face along the floor, hide more, avoid bright light and play less. Squinting is one of the few clear pain signals a cat gives, so it should not be ignored.
Usually one eye is affected. The cornea, the most delicate surface of the eye, is easily damaged, and a damaged cornea that is not examined can get worse within hours. Some eye diseases, such as raised pressure, are painful and harm sight even though the eye looks almost normal from the outside.
Do not drop or smear anything into the eye and do not try to wash it with home remedies: until the cause is known you can do harm. Do not force the lids open if your cat resists. It helps to note when the squinting began, whether the eye also waters or looks cloudy, and to tell the vet.
Possible causes
These are things that can cause this sign. It is not a diagnosis, and they are not equally likely for your cat.
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A scratch on the cornea or an ulcer
A sore on the cornea is very painful, so the eye is squinted and watering and the cat rubs it. Such an eye should be shown to a vet as soon as possible.
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A foreign object or irritation
Dust, a plant fragment or a hair under the lid irritates the eye. The cat squints it and rubs it with a paw.
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Inflammation inside the eye
When inflammation affects the inside of the eye, it hurts and is sensitive to light. The pupil can change and the eye can look hazy.
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Raised pressure in the eye
When pressure rises in the eye it is very painful and may look larger or cloudy. The condition can damage sight quickly.
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An inherited change in the cornea
When the cornea slowly loses its clarity, small blisters can form. When they burst they leave a painful sore, so the eye is squinted and watering.
About the condition: Corneal dystrophy -
Infection or an eyelid problem
Inflamed eye lining or an eyelid turned inward irritates the eye. It looks red and watery, and the cat squints or rubs it.
What else to watch for
These observations help your vet build the picture faster. Note down what you saw and when.
- Whether one eye or both are squinted
- Whether the eye is also watering or giving off cloudy fluid
- Whether the surface of the eye looks cloudy or red
- Whether the pupils are the same size
- Whether your cat avoids light, hides or plays less
- Whether other signs have appeared, such as sneezing or a change in appetite
When to book a routine visit
A squinted or rubbed eye always deserves a vet's examination. Go the same day, especially if the eye changed suddenly, looks cloudy or the pupils are different sizes.
Related conditions
Conditions whose entries mention this sign. The list is somewhere to read on, not a way to reach a diagnosis.
- Conjunctivitis Eyes Inflammation of the conjunctiva, the thin pink membrane lining the inside of the eyelids and the front of the eyeball. The eye turns red, swells, waters or produces discharge, and the cat squints.
- Corneal dystrophy Eyes An inherited condition in which the clear surface of the eye, the cornea, slowly loses its clarity and turns cloudy. It can affect both eyes and make it harder for a cat to see clearly.
Body systems: Eyes