One of the most worrying concerns among pet lovers is when their pet’s eye becomes a little sore, Red, or inflamed.
Eye infection in the cat is caused by bacteria or viruses.
It can be convenient to use products for humans on our cats as they are easy to get hold of. Often they are already in the medicine cabinet!
Although some eye drops can be used for our cats as well as us, others have damaging preservatives that could do more harm than good.
When Is It Safe to Use Human Eye-drops for Cats?
Most eye infections often follow injury or another illness, such as a respiratory infection. We can use human eye-drops for the following reasons:
1. Removing Dust
Cats are Super clean as they lick themselves to remove dust but they can not clean their eyes. It is our responsibility as pet parents to regularly check and clean them.
2. Cleaning Eyes
We can use drops to keep make sure their eyes have enough moisture. There can be many things stuck in a cat’s eye like Dust, your cat’s fur, Sand, plant material, or other related dust particles.
Eye drops will immediately remove anything which is causing discomfort or anything that may further lead to infection.
3. Dry Eye
When there is not enough moisture in the cat’s eyes, their eyesight tends to be weak. Common causes are Viral or Bacterial diseases.
If your cat is facing dry eye issues that are because to less fluid, she will display common signs like discharge from the eyes, excessive blinking, redness, puffiness, etc.
How to Use Human Eye Drops for Cats?
It is very important to do this process of applying eye drops with utmost care because our pets may feel scared. so, In order to make this process as comfortable as possible we should take care of the following steps suggested by the experts from VCA Animal Hospital:
1. Prepare Necessary Supplies
Take out all the Important tools you will need during this process. Eye-Drops, Cotton Balls, Gloves, Water, etc. Do not forget to prepare yourself mentally.
2. Wash Your Hands Thoroughly
It is important to have clean hands. which will prevent any unwanted material from passing to your cat from you.
3. Let Your Cat Sit In Your Lap
Gently take your cat into your lap. Make her feel secure and Sit with her for a while before going to the next step.
4. Clean Your Cat’s Eye
In this step, we will make sure there is not any dust or unnecessary particle in the eyes. Soak the cotton ball into the lukewarm water and with utmost care wipe the eyes.
5. Apply The Drops
Now, slowly tilt the cat’s head upwards. Use your Index finger or Thumb while applying the Drops. Make sure not to touch the eyes.
Make it quick as this might scare the cat. It will soothing comfort to the cat’s eye and help the cat to relax.
6. Give Lots Of Love
To develop a positive association with eye drops your cat needs lots of love and treats afterwards.
When to Call the Vet?
Cat’s eyes are very delicate and there are so many different conditions that they can be hard to diagnose at home, so relying only on eye drops at home is not advisable.
A few symptoms that may mean your cat has eye problems include watery eyes, cloudiness, red or white eyelid linings, dirt in the corners of the eye, squinting, pawing at the eye, or a visible third eyelid.
Take a Trip to the vet if you feel confused at any point. It is easy to diagnose and treat eye problems before they go from bad to worse.
Eye issues should be considered an emergency, so seeking a vet appointment is important.
FAQs
How can I treat my cat’s eye infection at home?
Dip a cotton ball in the water. Wipe away the eye discharge, always from the corner of the eye outward. Use a fresh cotton ball for each eye. Steer clear of any over-the-counter drops or washes unless your vet has prescribed them.
What Tear Drops Are Safe For Cats?
Do not use any over-the-counter eye drops for your cat, unless it’s artificial tears. Anything medicated can have a negative effect. eye drops for dogs should also be avoided.
How Can I Treat My Cat’s Eye Infection At Home?
Dip a cotton ball in the water. Wipe away the eye discharge, always from the corner of the eye outward. Use a fresh cotton ball for each eye.
How Long Does Cat’s Infection Last?
Once a cat is exposed to an infectious agent, it will go through an incubation period of 2-10 days before developing clinical signs. If the infection is uncomplicated, it will typically last for 7-10 days, although signs may persist for up to 21 days in some cases.
Are cat eye infections painful?
Eye infections in cats can be uncomfortable and may be painful. If you’re a cat owner, don’t ignore the signs! Since bacterial and viral eye infections are quite common in felines, being able to identify the signs and symptoms of a cat eye infection is essential.
What kinds of eye drops are there?
There are Allergy drops, Artificial drops, Anti-redness drops, etc. Of these three, allergy drops and anti-redness drops are not safe for cats. Both contain human medications which can cause adverse effects in pets.
Conclusion
So, can you use human eye drops for cats? This depends on the type of issue your cat is having and which human eye drops you’re talking about.
Generally, they are useful for cleaning the eyes and addressing minor problems but do not rely on them for every eye infection.
Like human eyes, there can be many issues with cat eyes not all of them can be solved by human eye drops.
If your cat shows any major symptoms, it is highly recommended to visit the Vet because applying human eye drops might do more than good.
Patricia is a guardian to an exotic shorthair cat named Suz. She’s a professional cat trainer and behaviorist. She has expertise in writing on feline behavior, house training, and tips & tricks including product reviews of related products.
