We have an 8 week old kitten with a swollen eye and discharge can this hurt my toddlers?

Question

since tomorrow is sunday will it hurt my cat to wait till monday to call a vet? We just got him tuesday, and i dont even have a vet yet

Answer 1

most likely not..for the most part.... humans can't get sick from the same things cats get sick from. pink eye i'm not sure..if the cat has other signs like respitory problemthen it's most like not pink eye.... just wash hands alot.
however to help the kitty take a warm moist wash cloth and do some warm compressions ever few hours and try to get the crusties out... if her eye is infected it will draw it out of her eye.. good luck... make sure she stays warm... she most likely sick... good luck hope ur going to the vet monday morn.

Answer 2

It is best that your kitten not be handled by toddlers until the eye infection is treated.
Eye infections in kittens spread from one eye to the other and will cause blindness if not treated right away. The fact the eye is swollen indicates the infection has been there for a few days already and is doing damage. It is too bad that you will have to wait another day or so to visit the vet's office.
There really isn't any home remedy that will treat a viral infection. Just wipe the area around the eye very very gently with a cotton ball soaked with plain ordinary water to help remove crust that collects. The eye will be very sore so take care not to press down too hard.

Answer 3

It's probably not contagious to humans, but it doesn't hurt to be careful. Keep the kitten inside a "safe room"-a quiet room with food, toys, water, and a litter box.

Eye infections are VERY common in kittens/cats fresh from the shelter. It can be an indicator of Feline Herpes Virus, which is NOT an STD as it is in humans. It can be passed from cat to cat when the virus is active. Feline Herpes Virus isn't very dangerous unless the kitten is very young and/or weak; however, it can flare up occasionally throughout life as eye or respiratory infections when the cat is stressed. Infections are easily cured with ointments or antibiotics prescribed by your vet.

Please take your cat to the vet ASAP. It can probably wait until Monday, but if the eye seems to be getting steadily worse it may be necessary to find a 24/7 emergency vet, since it could be something more serious than conjunctivitis.

It may also help to wash the eye out regularly with sterile, lukewarm water.

Answer 4

Hi, I have several cats myself and last year two kittens I was going to find a home developed the same symptoms as your kittens and I brought them to a special animal eye center. They checked out the eyes and put them on a special medicine that was very expensive and I had to bring them back several times and it didn't look like it was getting any better and I did not want to put them to sleep. Since I am a salesmen and I always tease and play with pretty ladies whenever I can I thought I would do the same with one of the lovely techs and see If I could pick her brains. Well it worked better than I expected, she told me on the QT that if I went to the drug store I could buy a product over the counter that was the same as the expensive stuff I was prescribed. The product is also used by humans and the name of the stuff is "Genital Sever" (cost about $10 ) and it cleared up the eyes in less than two weeks. I still haven't found a home for the kittens but I will, I'm just too busy.right now, Hope this helps.

Answer 5

I would personally keep the kitty away from the toddlers as eye infections can be contagious just until it clears, I would also wet a soft cloth in warm salty water then wring out and gently wipe the kitty's eye regular through out the day if you don't see any improvement within a day or so i would call your local vet and explain the symptoms they will very likely give you an eye cream to apply to the kitty's eye .... Good luck

Answer 6

both my cats had this when i brought them home from the local shelter. its a basic cold and from my experience was only contagious to my other cats. i was not harmed by it at all.. simply take a kleenex and remove as much liquid from the eye as possible and get the medication from the vet asap. it usually goes away in about a week or so if the medication is taken properly every day. if you have other pets i wouldnt expose them to the kitten. i wouldnt suggest your kids playing with the discharge but there is no harm in petting the kitten.

Answer 7

I don't think so but don't let the toddlers handle the cat because they might touch the eye and hert him/her,but you should definitely go to the vet TODAY if you can. My cat had discharge but not a swollen eye.It went away.She had it a about 8 weeks of age.

Answer 8

Unlikely, but isolate the kitten from the kids as it will probably be feeling pretty miserable and won't want to be poked around! Bathe your poor kitten's eye with cooled, boiled water to remove discharge - don't add salt to the water as some misguided people do with the intention of sterilising it further as this will burn terribly! This will be cleared up within a couple of days with some ointment.

P.S. The person who said "cats carry diseases - have it put down" is an idiot. Presumably an idiot who has never carried a disease him/herself?!!

Answer 9

doubt it, sometimes cats just scratch their eye and gets irritated and discharge cause they keep rubbing it, make sure her front claws are clipped (wal-mart sells cat nail clippers in cat section, can use human finger nail clippers to cut tip of nail, but be careful not to cut too much and cut to the quick, just clear part of nail tip)

vet usually gives antibiotic eye ointment and usually will start going away overnight after apply ointment

you can call a 24hr emergency vet, probably will tell you to wait till monday, but will agree with me, harmless

if eye really swollen bad and looks like bothering cat, vet may want to see now, check yellow pages for 24hr vet to call, or some vets you call have alternate numbers for emergency or have messages on phone where to call if closed

Answer 10

I would have him checked out by a vet. Also, isolate the kitten from your toddlers, if possible. Certain feline diseases can be passed to people. Everyone in your household should thoroughly wash their hands after handling the kitten.