How to Clean Your Cat's Gummed Up Eyes

Healthy cat's eyes should look clear and bright. Sometimes cats and kittens get runny or "weepy" eyes that become encrusted overnight and will need careful cleaning before an infection sets in, such as cat pink eye or feline conjunctivitis. Read the following article for instructions on how to clean your cat's gummed up eyes.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Salt
• Water
• Cotton swabs

Soothing Salt Solution

1. Boil a cup of regular tap water. Add a teaspoon of table salt to the boiled water, stir until it's dissolved and allow to cool to lukewarm temperature.

2. Dip the ends of several cotton swabs into the warm salt water solution and tap off excess water. Holding the cotton swabs in one hand and the kitten or cat in the other, apply the saltwater solution to one of the cat's affected eyes. When the eye is clean discard the soiled cotton swabs and wash your hands thoroughly.

3. Repeat Step 2 for the cat's other infected eye and do it again every four hours until all signs of infection are cleared up and the feline's eyes are bright and clear. Remember to always use separate swabs for each eye to avoid cross-infection.

Tips & Warnings

• Be consistent with regular eye-bathing
• Discard soiled swabs carefully and always remember to wash your hands after treating the feline--the infection may spread to your eyes through improper hygiene practices!
• Should the cat's third eyelid (an extra, white eyelid that closes from the inner edge across to the outer edge of the eye underneath the upper and lower eyelids) starts showing permanently, or the eyes get swollen or oozing with green pus, the feline should be seen immediately by a veterinarian.

Resources

• Cat Pink Eye
• Cat Eye Health
• Cat's Eyes

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