Is there a natural remedy for cats eye irritation?

Question

I'm wondering if theres a natural remedy for cronic eye problems. My cat's eye are always irritated. Hes persian so its normal for drainage, but hes rubbing them thus making them irritated.

Besides getting a perscription, what other natural remedys can be done?

We always use steriods by perscription, however because hes rubbing them constantly its not working correctly.

Answer 1

Please do not use human eye drops or natural remedies in his eyes unless approved by your veterinarian. They change their formulations frequently, and many can be harmful to a cat's eyes. He only has 2 of them. You don't want to blind him. The only thing you can safely use without a doctor's exam is a sterile, buffered eye wash to gently cleanse the drainage as it occurs.

Btw....it's not "normal" for Persian's to have eye drainage, but due to breeder selectivity, it is common. (There's a difference.)

He may need to have his nasolacrimal ducts flushed. It's a simple procedure, but requires anesthesia. (Don't let that scare you...it's very safe.) Sometimes, that will open them up so they can drain properly if they've been blocked by 'crud' <---(that's a highly scientific medical term.) ;-) Often, however, the problem is not an actual blockage, but a functional blockage due to the 'smushed' face (another medical term, lol.) <---imagine a kink in a garden hose, where the water can't get through. If the tears can't get through, they overflow from the lids. That causes irritation to the skin underneath the eye, which can lead to actual infection.

A fluoroscein dye test (painless, and done awake, right in the exam room) can *help* determine if tears are able to flow properly down the duct, as well as rule out chronic ulcerative keratitis, sometimes caused by ocular herpesvirus (more frequently seen in these breeds, in my experience.) There can also be eyelid/eyelash problems, which won't resolve no matter what you put into the eyes, unless you correct the underlying problem with surgery. (Not as common as it is in dogs, but entropion, etc. does sometimes occur in cats, too.) I would recommend consulting a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist, and following his/her specific recommendations for your particular cat.

Good luck. :-) (I have a Persian angel named Francesca who went through veterinary school with me before she had to leave prematurely to wait for me at the Rainbow Bridge.)

Answer 2

I would Not put Vinegar in the water.. ice cube yes. I give an oatmeal bath to my cat. you put about 1 cup of oatmeal in an old sock and run it under the water. it will look milkie. it does soften the skin and your cat will have a good nites sleep for a few days. Plus I use an organic spray with aloe for itching and moisture My cat Hates sprays But he Loves this stuff coz' it helps him... it Does work.. for a few days. I also comb him and after each swipe of the comb I dip it with whatever fleas are attached into a container of warm soapy water that will Kill the fleas then I flush the water, If you can take him to a vet. amoxicillian and cortisone helped my cat for several months and his hair grew back plus he was Happy.

Answer 3

Do you smoke? My brother had a cat with constant eye problems. Once he quit smoking they eye troubles went away.

Answer 4

saline is an excellent eye lubricant.
Look for "natural tears" in the eye care area of the supermarket.

Answer 5

try with luke warm cammomilla
put it on some cotton and wipe her eyes three times a day

Answer 6

get the cat to the vet for some antibiotics or your cat may go blind

Answer 7

PUT AN EYEDROP JUST LIKE WE USE!!!! BELIEVE ME IT'S EFFECTIVE!!