Expert: Norman Auspitz - 8/1/2011

Question
QUESTION: Hi! My cat gave birth to 5 kittens on  the 19th of July at around 4 am. We are sure of this, as she gave birth in front of me and my sister. Out of 5 one of them was comparatively smaller. It looked pretty healthy like the others, just smaller. Then few days ago, puss/or a clear thick fluid started coming out of one its eyes while it was still shut. The next day I saw that there was no more liquid,and the eye started opening from the corner. Today morning, 27th of July, only that eye totally opened. The skin is pinkish around that eye. The other kittens still have their eyes shut. Is it too early? Is it an infection? Can it be blinded? I am really worried. We haven't tried anything yet, other than that, its behavior and movement is still the same.

ANSWER: Adrita,

I would get the kitten to a veterinarian. Remember, I am not a veterinarian, but when this type of thing happens, it is prudent to act quickly and give this kitten an ophthalmic antibiotic drop that your vet can give to you and show you how to administer the drops to the kitten. The only way this can cause blindness is if it goes on untreated.  Having a minor eye infection is not uncommon with new born kittens.

Please let me know what happens.

Best regards... Norm.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi!

Thank you for your reply. Sorry I was late in replying. Well I got some good news and some bad! Well the small kitten's eyes opened the first! Then there was no more liquid coming out of it! Then the others started opening their eyes too, only one more kitten is left, but its eyes are opening too. For a few days the small kitten was fine, but today I notice that one of the eyes are smaller than the other, and in it there was gunk- like when humans wake up and we need to wash it off from the eyes. Now that eye is closed, I think the gunk dried up and got the eyelids stuck together! Also now I am noticing the extra gunk on another kitten's eyes too. I live in a 3rd world country - and vets aren't really available here. I want to take a wet cloth and very gently just clean the gunk off the eyes. I know I can do it without hurting it. If there is any specific technique or conditions I need to maintain doing it, please tell me. Or if you have any other suggestion let me know! Or is this common?

- Adrita

Answer
Adrita,

Remember, I am not a vet, but I can offer a couple of things to try if you cannot obtain veterinary care.

The eye of the one looks smaller because it is partly closed.  You can use a soft cloth dipped in warm water and gently massage the eyelids until the crust loosens up and each kitten can open its eyes. You really ought to see if you can get some ophthalmic antibiotic eye drops, usually, something like gentamycin ophthalmic (make sure it does NOT have durafilm) or tobramycin ophthalmic. I do not know how you might obtain those where you live.  But one drop in each eye 4 times a day for 10 - 14 days.  If it is just a bacterial infection or standard upper respiratory virus, it should clear up (and may very well clear up on its own). If the kittens do not respond to treatment, and it keeps lingering on it might be a herpes virus or a chlamydia virus and you will need veterinary intervention in this case.

These types of eye problems are not uncommon with newborn kittens.

Please let me know how it all goes with these kittens.

Best regards... Norm.