What do I do about my cat's eye??

Question

My cat is 18 years old and has what seems to be a cyst below his right eye. It's been there for months, doesn't seem to have grown any or gotten any worse, and doesn't seem to bother him at all. The problem is, when he affectionately rubs that side of his face against me or anything else, it keeps bleeding....and I think it's draining because the most rancid, horrible smell I've ever smelled is coming from it. It's like a slap in the face. I can't even stand him to be close to me, and he doesn't understand why I'm pushing him away...I'm afraid to take him to the vet because of his advanced age. He never leaves the house or sees people and I'm afraid he'll have a heart attack! What should I do?? Should I try and get him an eye patch or something?

Thanks to everyone. I'm going to see if any vets around here make house calls, and if not, I'll check out a calming agent at the pet store and get to the vet. Thanks!!!

Answer 1

You need to have the vet see him. If it is foul smelling it is infected and needs the vet to drain it. I have a cat who has 2 infected eye, we make weekly vet trips to have the eyes flushed and to get a antibiotic shot. They are slowly getting better. The normal antibiotics and eye drops weren't working. Check the local vets, you may find one that will come to your home. We now have one that does that and it is so much better on the older cat. Good Luck

Answer 2

Are you sure it's cyst? Cysts are fluid filled sacs, which will most likely drain if ruptured. The fact that it smells awful indicates it's infected - either an abscess, or an abscessed cyst.

Anyway, most coincidentally, I've just finished assisting the removal of a large cyst from above the eye of an old cat. She's a stray so we don't know how old, we're guessing around 15. She's had the cyst for ages, but it was recently decided to remove it as it has got so big and starting to cause discomfort. She was fine with the anaesthetic, and it also gave me a chance to chip some of the tartar off what's left of her teeth!

Point is, age does not necessarily mean a riskier anaesthetic. It's the health problems that could go with age that are the problem. Your vet will exam the cat properly first, at a minimum he will listen to his heart to ensure it's healthy and strong enough to cope with the anaesthetic. You can also have pre-op bloods taken - these will show the condition of the liver and kidneys and indicate any signs of diabetes. If the pre-ops are clear and the heart sounds fine, there's no real reason not to go ahead. Even if the pre-ops aren't 100%, there's measures that can be taken to compensate for this.

If it was my cat, I'd get her thoroughly checked and go ahead with the op. There are many different drugs that are used for sedation and anaesthesia, some are more suitable for old animals. My cat had two anaesthetics when she was 16 - one to sort out her teeth, and the other to fix an abscess. She had a heart murmur, so valium was used instead of ACP for the pre-medication.

I would suggest getting this problem sorted out - it really does sound like it's infected, and even if it isn't it's obviously causing problems for the cat and for you. Talk the vet about your concerns, they'll understand. I can't honestly say I've ever had an animal die under anaesthetic because it was old - only because it had serious injuries or diseases. If it was my cat, I'd do it.

Best of luck,
Chalice

Answer 3

OMG are you nuts ???? Get that cat to a vet!! If you are afraid that the cat will become over stressed or sick, call around and find an on call at home vet. First of all, a cyst by the eye ball is asking for death of an eye. Secondly, BLEEDING IS BAD !!!!!!!!!!!!! The cyst is rupturing every time he rubs it. Thirdly, if it smells, its infected BADLY. The only way you can solve this problem is to see a vet. If you don't have the money, call around to shelters and the humane society. They have cheap options for vets. You are ruining your cats life, and as a parent of cats and kids- if I neglected any of them for such an issue i would never forgive myself and give them all up because I couldn't care for them properly!! Come on now, get some sense, get a grip- grab on and take your cat to a vet. PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 4

Although at such an old age, little lumps and growths are actually pretty common in animals. However, if it is growing or bleeding you must seek vet attention.

If you are worried about the cat’s emotional state, go to the pet store and you will find many products that you can put in the cat’s food or water that is used for such times to help them calm down. I gave it to my cats before taking them on an airplane and it helped tremendously.

Better to be safe than sorry, right?

Answer 5

Cat Eye Cyst

Answer 6

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RE:
What do I do about my cat's eye??
My cat is 18 years old and has what seems to be a cyst below his right eye. It's been there for months, doesn't seem to have grown any or gotten any worse, and doesn't seem to bother him at all. The problem is, when he affectionately rubs that side of his face against me or anything...

Answer 7

Hi there,
No you should not use any around a cats face you will drive it nuts, cats of any age love to be cuddled so next time you give her/him a cuddle get a bowl of warm water and some cotton wool balls and wipe her/his bad eye with the wet cotton balls.
The more you do that the smaller the cyst will get couse you will be getting rid of the rubbish.
Chew gum or extra stronge mints while you are doing it , it may just help you a little .
GOOD LUCK,,,PHYLLIS

Answer 8

Call your vet and ask for their advice. The vet may be able to prescribe a medication based on your description. In my area several vets make house calls (typically it's for horses and such but I don't see why they wouldn't see a cat if you were willing to pay) -- see if there is such a service in your area.

Answer 9

Although you are afraid that he wouldn't survive going to the vet, thats where your cat needs to go. It sounds as if your cat has abcesses in his eyes. Only a vet can give you the medicine that is safe to use. Do not buy medicine for you animal over the counter, as they are usually not as effective as prescription meds.

Answer 10

ring the vet explain all this to them you know they have dealt with all this before my cat was 21 very nervous of the vet before we finally had to say good bye he was fine because they took the time needed to reassure him you really need to take him for his sake he could be rubbing for relief. hope it goes OK