LOOKING AFTER THE EYES

Despite all of their charms, cats’ eyes are delicate and by no means immune to disease.

Cats sniff around in places where there may be dust and dirt, and this is why you should clean their eyes regularly, so that they do not accumulate dirt in them and to clean away the rheum that tends to build up around their eyes.

Although a cat’s eyes do not need special care, you should be prepared for any mishaps. The first sign that there is a problem with their eyes is constant watering. They may have had dust or some foreign particle enter their eye, which has led to an infection; or they may have a blocked nasolacrimal duct. These blockages may be temporary and are not dangerous, but they do require some care and attention from you. In fact, cats from certain breeds – such as Persians – tend to have problems in their tear ducts and daily checks are needed.

The recommendation is to clean their eyes and any rheum that has accumulated every other day. To get rid of it, it is adequate to wipe a piece of cotton moistened with water or saline solution, trying to get rid of as much as possible. The best way of doing this is to move the cotton around the edges of the eyes, without actually touching the eyeball. However, if the watering is excessive and there is a reddening of the eyes, you should consult your trusted vet straight away.