Why Is My American Shorthair Kitten Leaking Clear Fluid From Her Eye? (Vet Answered)
This question has been answered by a vet
Small Animal Veterinarian
Dr. Karyn is a small animal veterinarian originally from Australia, now based in the UK. She holds degrees in Veterinary Science (2010) and Zoology. When not helping pets, she tends to her 5 cats and garden!
The Question
My kitten is leaking a clear fluid out of her eye
Quick Info about Socks
Socks 's profile pictureHi Jennifer,
Thanks for writing in. Weepy eyes can be due to several different causes; some worrying, some not too concerning.
If there is only one eye involved, there could be a scratch or ulcer on the surface of the cornea, or some mild conjunctivitis. Allergies can also make the eyes watery, though this would usually affect both eyes.
Eye problems can progress and become infected quite rapidly, so a veterinary examination is definitely a good idea, particularly if she is squinting, rubbing at the eye, or the weeping isn't resolving. In the meantime, gently cleaning the eye with a clean, damp cloth or a pet wipe can help provide some relief. Cooled calendula tea can be quite soothing for cleaning eyes, but don't use salty water or any other preparations until you've seen a vet.
Another consideration is cat flu, particularly as Socks is a young cat.
Cat flu is caused by one of two viruses: Feline Calicivirus (FCV) and Feline Herpesvirus (FHV-1). Both viruses can be spread through direct transmission between cats; however, viral particles can also spread through the air and be carried on contaminated objects such as clothing, furniture, and food & water bowls, and even indoor cats can be infected.
In most cases, cats with cat flu show mild-to-moderate clinical signs similar to those seen in a human respiratory virus, such as:
watery eyes
sneezing +/- coughing
sore throat
nasal discharge and congestion
fever
reduced appetite
Being a viral infection, there is no specific treatment for cats with uncomplicated cat flu. However, you can help them feel better and speed their recovery by increasing their fluid intake (eg. adding water to wet food, offering cat soup/broth/liquid meals, gently warming food to increase the aroma), ensuring there is good circulation of fresh air (but avoid cold drafts), and being extra vigilant about cleaning bowls and bedding.
One final thing to consider is that some cats can have blocked tear ducts, either due to the anatomy of the eye socket, a congenital problem, or as a complication from a previous infection. This results in tears overflowing from the eye rather than being drained away through the nasolacrimal duct.
I hope this has been helpful, and that Socks will soon be on the mend.
All the best,
Dr Karyn