Does anyone know what it means when a cats eye goes cloudy?

Question

She is only a young cat, aged 4, and has no other problems. She is a rescue cat from the RSPCA and we've only had her for a week.

Has been on eye drops since we got her and as yet we have not noticed any improvement. Her sight seems fine and she responds well, but her eye is very cloudy. She has to have drops for another week before taking her back to the vet, but as yet, everything seems the same.

The drops cause her a lot of distress and she has taken to hiding most of the time. I know I have to give her the drops for her to get better, but at the same time, I don't want to keep causing her stress if the drops aren't actually helping.

Any ideas on what it can be?

Any ideas on how to give her the drops without causing so much stress?

Any ideas on what I can do to stop her being so scared?

All help very much appreciated!

Answer 1

I have the exact same problem. You dont say what breed your cat is but i have Persians which are prone to ulcers because they're eyes stick out a bit. My cat currently has to have 4 eye drops a day and its taking ages to heal (have been to the vets every week for two months) but it is slowly healing, its still cloudy but the whiteness has cleared. I would continue with the drops as they will help it to heal but it will take time, to give the drops I put my cat on my knee lying down on his back, and hold his eye open. I know its difficult and isnt pleasant for them but at the end of they day they have to get them put in so be firm with her. hopefully your wee cats eye will clear up a bit quicker because jasper (my cat) is 16yrs old and I think his age might be the reason its taking so long to heal. Take her to the vet regularly to make sure its healing, and let me know how she gets on. If you have any questions let me know and i'll try to help as much as I can x
P.s I forgot to say that I give jasper some cat milk as soon as he's had his drops so he associates them with something pleasant!

Answer 2

Seems unlikely to be a cataract, given her age and the fact that it appears to be affecting one eye only. It does sound more like an infection, hence the eye drops. I've seen this before when a cat has been in a fight or has been scratched with a grass seed or similar.

I think your best option is to carry on with the drops even though it may be distressing for you and the cat. The best way to apply the drops is to get everything ready before you grab the cat (i.e. top off the bottle, etc.) Grab her swiftly and tightly by the scruff of the neck and quickly apply the drops, then immediately release her (it may help if there are two of you doing this).

Persevere and I'm sure it will all turn out OK.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Why is she getting eye drops? It does sound like cataracts, ask the vet. Try picking her up for some attention she is associating you with getting the drops and this procedure on top of a new home situation is putting her in stress. You could try putting the drops on a cotton ball and gently wiping her eyes, I clean my cats eyes this way...they don't mind one bit.

Answer 4

def an infection! ( keep up with the eye drops!!)

i'm answering as it was the 2nd part that got me!!
if she's taken to hiding then yeah! the cat's distressed at having eye drops put in, so....
sit her on your knee and pet her for a few mins before doing, (She'l still panic when she sees the drops!), and again afterwards, as she seems to need reassured that you are not going to cause hurt!!!

my cat, i give him free roam! (It's his house too!) he'd sit and let you do this no prob, he also enjoys things that we do (IE: showers baths whatever) as your cat is a member of the family, not like a dog that'l need to be fed (a cat will feed as and when) or walke (a cat will go out when they want!!)

treat her as u would a kid, you'll c a huge difference in a few weeks!!!

all the best wi yer mog!!

Answer 5

could be cataract or an eye ulcer, one of my cats has a cloudy film over part of his eye that was from an eye ulcer due to feline herpes. the vet said that there are procedures to clear it up but he seems to not have any difficulties with it the way it is. just to keep an eye on it and see it doesn't get any worse.

as far as her being scared, one thing you can do is after you give her the meds play with her or give her a treat

Answer 6

It it probably a caterac. My horse has the same thing and I have to put drops in her eyes once a week. When you got the cat did they not tell you why you had to put drops in her eyes? If she does have a caterac it means that she can go blind in time, if you do not put the drops in her eyes. I would speak to your vet to find the best solution for you.

Answer 7

A severe worm problem can cause cloudiness of the eyes - has she been wormed?

Not sure about how to help with the behavioural probs though. Talk to vet again, I'd say.

Answer 8

Could be she is going blind in that eye.

Could be the eye drops are causing the problem.

Definitely would take her to Vets for a check up.

She may be scared because she may have been abused and mistreated - one week is perhaps too soon for her to trust you.

Answer 9

as to what it could be, my guess is cataracts, infection, or worms.
as to the drops, pet and hold her for a bit before, and offer her treats. try to do the drops as quickly as possible and try to hold her comfortably (possibly wrapped tightly in a towel) while you do it, and offer more treats and soothing words after. she will probably run from you and give you dirty looks for a bit, but that's normal. i had to put ointment in my cat's eyes and had to do one then let him go and do the other one about a half hour later sometimes, and he glared at me!! omg, he glared so hard! (but it was kinda silly looking as his eyes were goopey)
good luck!

Answer 10

Cataracts?