Just like our eyes produce tears, so do cats. But unlike us, the general consensus is that cats don’t cry because of emotions. Rather, they shed tears for other reasons, such as allergies, irritation, disease and clogged tear ducts. If you’ve noticed your feline counterpart with excessively watery eyes, you should try to identify the root cause.
Not all cases of a teary-eyed cat should cause concern. Cats have a thin coating of tears covering their eyes. Known as the precorneal tear film, it’s just 0.01 mm to 0.04 mm thin. Although thin and fragile, the tear film serves many purposes, such as lubricating and moisturizing the cat’s eyes; improving corneal clarity; protecting against microbial invaders; and providing key nutrients to the eyes like oxygen, glucose and electrolytes.
While tear films are completely normal, it’s not normal for a cat to produce tears pooling up inside their socket and dripping down their face. When a cat produces tears, those tears should form part of the film, with any excess tears flushed through the ducts and out the nostrils. So, what causes cats to have watery eyes?
Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis is one of the most common causes of watery eyes in cats. Also known as pink eye, it’s characterized by inflammation of the mucous membrane covering the eyeball and inside of the eyelid. When this membrane becomes inflamed, it prevents tears from draining; thus, new tears will simply pool up in the cat’s eyes.
Cats may develop conjunctivitis from exposure to an allergen (e.g. pollen, household chemicals, plants, fungi), or viral or bacterial infection. According to an article published by Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, however, conjunctivitis in cats is most commonly caused by infection with the feline herpesvirus, calicivirus, chlamydophila or mycoplasma. Conjunctivitis is only contagious — to both humans and other cats — when it caused by a virus, not bacteria or irritation.
Because conjunctivitis can lead to vision loss or blindness in cats when left untreated, owners should set up professional veterinary care. Treatment for conjunctivitis varies depending on what causes it. The veterinarian will typically take a culture sample of the cat’s eyes, testing it for common viral and bacterial infections. For bacterial infections, the veterinarian may prescribe antibiotics. For viral infections, anti-viral medications like Acyclovir may be prescribed. For conjunctivitis caused by allergies, hydrocortisone eye drops may be prescribed.
Physical Injury
Hopefully this never happens to your feline companion, but physical injury can cause watery eyes in cats. If a cat has been injured in their eye, the affected eye may swell to the point where it obstructs tears from draining. Applying antibiotic ointment to the wound reduces the risk of injection and shortens healing times. However, you should seek veterinary care for injuries involving more than just minor cuts and scrapes.
Keep your cat indoors to reduce the risk of physical injury. Allowing your cat to roam outdoors, even for just a few hours at night, places them at greater risk of injury. Outdoor cats often get into fights with other pets, hit by passing cars, or physically abused.
Foreign Objects
Cats may develop watery eyes when a foreign object such as a splinter becomes stuck in their eye or eyelid. When a foreign object becomes stuck in a cat’s eye, their immune system responds by sending inflammatory cells to try and quarantine the object and prevent further damage. But in doing so, this prevents tears from draining through the tear ducts.
If you see a foreign object stuck in your cat’s eyes, DO NOT attempt to remove it. Always seek veterinary care when removing foreign objects from your cat, especially their eyes. The only exception is when the foreign object is located on the surface of your cat’s eye rather than embedded inside it, in which case you can carefully extract the object using tweezers.
Allergies
Another common cause of watery eyes in cats is allergies. When exposed to an allergen, cats may experience skin dryness, itching, inflammation and watery eyes.
If you believe allergies are causing your cat’s watery eyes, you’ll need to identify the specific allergen so you can remove it from your home. Veterinarians can perform allergy tests on cats, but they aren’t 100% accurate. Eliminating possible allergens one by one should reveal the culprit. If you recently switched to a new brand of cat food, for instance, try switching back to your cat’s previous brand to see if the problem persists. And if that doesn’t solve the problem, try removing other possible allergens like air fresheners and scented candles. Through the process of elimination, you should be able to find out what’s causing your cat’s allergies.
Here are some of the substances known to trigger allergic reactions in cats:
- Dust mites
- Tree, grass and weed pollen
- Mold
- Flea bites
- Perfumes
- Scented candles
- Air fresheners
- Laundry detergent
- Fabrics
- Plastics
- Cigarette smoke
- Food ingredients (beef, lamb, corn, wheat, gluten and soy)
Irritation
Irritation from overgrown fur around the eye can trigger excess tear production in cats. Certain breeds like the Ragamuffin, Himalayan and Persian are most likely to experience this due to their naturally long and thick coats. Take your cat to the groomer to trim away excess fur.
Blocked Tear Ducts
Normally, a cat’s tears drain through small holes in the corner of their eyes. Known as tear ducts, they play an important role in cats’ eye health, draining away old tears so that new tears can form. A cat’s tear ducts can become blocked, however, preventing their tears from draining. Over time, small particles like pollen and dust may accumulate inside the tear ducts. And when there are enough of these particles present, it creates a blockage. Diseases like the feline herpesvirus can also cause blocked tear ducts. Blockages are treated by flushing the cat’s eyes and/or removing the obstruction.
To diagnose tear duct blockages, a veterinarian can perform a test using fluorescein dye. The dye is placed into the cat’s eyes, at which point it should travel down through the tear ducts and out the nostrils. The veterinarian inspects the cat’s nostrils afterward, looking to see if the dye is present. If the veterinarian sees dye in the cat’s left nostril but not the right nostril, it’s safe to assume there’s a blockage in the cat’s right-eye tear duct.
Of course, some cats are born with narrow tear ducts, making them predisposed to this condition. Surgery is always an option for many cats with congenital tear duct defects, but owners should discuss all treatment options and risks with their veterinarian before agreeing to surgery.
How to Treat Your Cat’s Watery Eyes
Not all cases of watery eyes should prompt a visit to a veterinarian. If it’s acute watering caused by seasonal allergies, it will probably subside without the need for professional veterinary assistance. But if your cat’s watery eyes are caused by a more serious underlying condition, such the herpesvirus or a foreign object embedded in their eye, it could lead to life-threatening complications like a severe infection.
The average owner doesn’t have the expertise and experience required to diagnose the cause of their cat’s watery eyes. This is why it’s best to err on the side of caution by taking your cat to the veterinarian. The veterinarian will conduct a full examination of your cat to determine what’s causing the condition. Once the cause has been diagnosed, the veterinarian may recommend prescription medication, saline eye drops, home treatment, or surgery in severe cases.
Home Treatment for Acute Watery Eyes in Cats
Assuming your cat’s watery eyes are acute and not caused by a serious medical condition, the following home remedies may offer some temporary relief:
- Clean around the affected eye or eye by gently blotting it with a cotton ball. Do not touch your cat’s actual eyeball.
- Press a moist tea bag against the skin surrounding your cat’s affected eye. The tannins should ease pain and inflammation caused by conjunctivitis and infections.
- Provide your cat with distilled bottled water. Tap water contains impurities and minerals that can cause an overproduction of tears in cats.
- Soak a paper towel in apple cider vinegar and apply it to the back of your cat’s neck. With antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties, it’s able to clear up many underlying causes of watery eyes in cats. Just remember to keep it far away from your cat’s eyes.
- Maintain clean air inside your home by changing the air filter, vacuuming the floors, dusting furniture, and keeping the humidity level around 45 to 55%.
- Remove all possible allergens from your home (see list above).
*Keep in mind that the home remedies listed above are not effective for all cases of watery eyes in cats. Only a veterinarian can diagnose this condition and offer professional advice on how to treat it.
References:
http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/Health_Information/conjunctivitis.cfm