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Expert: - 2/12/2009


Question
Hi. One of my 9 month old cat's eyelids are.. weird.

Cats have something of a double eyelid right?

In both of his eyes, in the corner on his nose, his double eyelid is partially over his eye. It's been this way for 2 days. He also has lots of eye boogers.

Could it be allergies?

Answer
Kayla,

This sounds like an eye infection to me. Your kitty should see the vet immediately because seeing the third eyelid (which is the grayish membrane that covers the eye from the inside) can indicate that your kitty is in poor health or he may just have a case of conjunctivitis. If your kitty has an eye infection your vet will prescribe antibiotic drops that have to be administered for a set period of time until the infection clears up. I do recommend washing your hands before handling your cat to prevent any further bacteria ending up in his eyes and afterwards because these eye infections are contagious to people as well in some cases. Allergies wouldn't cause the third eyelid to cover the eye, they would be more likely to cause hair loss and itchiness.

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Ali

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I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.

Experience

I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.

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I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.

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