temp care for kitten's eye til can see vet: need answer fast

In My Humble Opinion (IMHO)
#1

My sweet new kitten Zoey has a vet appointment for a week from tomorrow for her vaccinations; it’s a little overdue but was the best I could get (I called for an appointment as soon as I adopted her; several vets here are not taking new clients, it seems that there is a shortage of animal care as well as human care).

Anyway, her left eye seems a bit weepy and irritated. I don’t know what caused it. I called the vet as soon as I could and begged to bring her in sooner than 8 days but they said it’s impossible (and their hours are pretty damn long - 8 am to 7 pm weekdays and partial days on Saturday as well).

The eye isn’t too bad looking and she doesn’t act like she’s in any distress, but is there anything I can do at home while waiting for the vet? I suspect not, since no one can diagnose her and know whether the problem is an irritant, an infection, or what.

I’ll wipe away the gook and keep my fingers crossed, but if anyone has any better ideas, please chime in. Thanks in advance.

#2

Boric acid diluted in water (warm is best) and a different cloth used each time you wipe the yuck away. Cotton balls tend to leave bits behind and gauze doesn’t hold enough of the mixture. So I just used bits of old teeshirt or socks that could be thrown away after a single use.

#3

From out in left field: Maybe an allergy? Benadryl might help?

#4

After you wipe off the gunk, use a clean cloth and put a tiny bit of Vaseline over the eye. It will help with irritation, and protect the eye. Kittens sometimes have this eye thing. Have you thought about calling the shelter where you got her? They might help you get her seen quicker.
ETA old tee shirt cut up is the best cloths, like posted above.

#5

Is it clear discharge, like tears, or mucky, like pus? Does Zoey have a fever? Is she eating normally? Does she have diarrhea? Is she behaving normally?

I think if she is behaving normally, eating normally, pooping normally and the discharge is like tears, then I wouldn’t worry. If it’s like pus, or her behavior changes, then it could be a sign of something more serious.

#6

Thanks everyone!

Sunny, it doesn’t seem pussy, (hah), just weepy. But her right eye now has a bit of gunk in it (not pus-like, but rather like the non-worrisome “sleep” I used to wipe out of my eyes sometimes back in the days when I wore contact lenses).

No fever or diarrhea, eating and behaving normally.

I’m off to Petco now to get some kitty boric acid wash if they have it.

I’ll try to remember to come back and update this thread, but if I don’t, it probably means she is fine. :slight_smile:

#7

Hey, I actually remembered to come back to this thread after Zoey (FINALLY!) got her vet appointment.

Short version: both eyes are fine; they cleared up pretty fast on their own after my last post. The vet did a general check-up and gave her the vaccinations she was scheduled for. Her only concern was a spot on Zoey’s ear that I hadn’t noticed that could possibly be the early stages of ringworm - ugh. Anyway, I have cream to apply 2x/day to nip it in the bud.

Vet and associated assistants all commented that they think Zoey is going to be a BIG cat when she grows up. That could be fun :slight_smile:

#8

If you have a water ionizer or know someone who does you can spray the acidic water in it, the very low ph one. We have been using it for pink eye here, there was an outbreak last year and a lot of people I knew got it. Everyone wanted the water for their eyes. I never got it, I was spraying my own eyes like crazy, even my maid and gardener had it. They said the acidic water gave a lot of relief to the eyes. And it kills the bacteria.