What is the cause of tears in a cat's eyes?

Tears in a cat's eyes can be caused by various reasons such as nasal duct blockage, improper diet, foreign body stimulation, eye diseases, and viral infections. When a cat has tears in its eyes, the owner should first observe if the cat has any other abnormalities, such as sneezing, coughing, and fever. If so, the cat should be taken to a pet hospital for inspection and treatment in a timely manner. If there are no other abnormalities, the owner can check the cat's eyes to see if there are any foreign objects present. If there are, they should be removed promptly.

Nasal duct blockage

Sometimes, cats experience teary eyes due to blocked nasal ducts. This is especially true for short-nosed cats like Garfield, whose flat faces and short nasal ducts make them more prone to blockages. stimuli such as cold air and dust cause them to cry. If you have such a cat, you should clean its eyes daily with wet tissues to maintain eye hygiene.

Improper diet

In daily care, if cats always eat food with high oil, high salt, and high fat content, they may develop symptoms such as increased eye discharge and tears. In this case, it is necessary to adjust the cat's diet and switch to lighter cat food.

Foreign body stimulation

Cats' eyes are very sensitive, so when foreign objects such as hair, dust, or accidentally flying insects enter their eyes, they will cry due to stimulation. To handle this, rinse the cat's eyes with saline solution to allow the foreign object to flow out naturally. Afterward, apply antibacterial and anti-inflammatory eye drops to prevent infection. However, if the foreign object in the cat's eye is large and has penetrated the eyeball, the cat should be taken to a pet hospital for professional removal.

Eye diseases

If a cat has long-term teary eyes, it may be due to bacterial infections such as conjunctivitis and keratitis. The cat may also have symptoms such as eye secretions and difficulty opening the eyes. If you notice these symptoms, consult a professional pet doctor in a timely manner for medication. Do not use blind medication to avoid exacerbating the condition.

Viral infection

If a cat is infected with a virus, it may also develop teary eyes. For example, common upper respiratory infections caused by feline herpesvirus and feline calicivirus can cause increased tear production. Symptoms may also include redness of the conjunctiva, photophobia, sneezing, and swollen eyes. If you notice these abnormal symptoms, take the cat to a pet hospital as soon as possible to determine the specific cause and receive appropriate treatment.