Cats are very attentive to their hygiene, and reach unthinkable points of their bodies with their tongues, all except their eyes. It may occur that crusty secretions form in the inner corners of your cat’s eyes. As well as being unsightly, they are a symptom of infections like conjunctivitis and it is therefore important to remove them. Here’s how to clean your cat’s eyes in a few easy steps!
Cleaning your cat’s eyes: what you need
Secretions can be removed simply by using compresses of water and chamomile tea. Therefore, the kit you need to clean your cat’s eyes consists of a few items that are, above all, readily available:
- Warm water
- Chamomile tea
- Cotton wool disks
- A towel
- A treat as a reward
Cleaning a cat’s eyes, step by step
First of all, wrap your cat in a towel, to “keep him still” and make the operation easier. Stroke him and pamper him to calm him down. Secondly, moisten the cotton wool disk with water or better still with the chamomile infusion – at a medium temperature – and begin to cleanse both the inner corner of the eye, down towards the nose, and the outer part, rubbing very gently and taking care to make slow movements, pressing very lightly. Cats do not like being touched in that area and therefore they might get impatient. Change the disc when you clean the other eye, to avoid any infection spreading from one eye to the other. After finishing this treatment, you can dry his eyes with a cloth and give your cat a treat as a reward.
Cleaning your cat’s eyes: frequency
A cat’s eyes should be cleaned daily if the crusty secretions form; if you do not notice anything in particular, it is sufficient to cleanse them twice a week, in order to keep them healthy. We would like to point out that, if the secretions are not eliminated, they could oxidize your cat’s fur and leave a permanent mark. It is a good idea to get your cat accustomed to this operation, beginning when he is a kitten, which will make it easier to convince him.
If the crusty secretions are accompanied by swelling, severe tearing and redness of the eye, it could be conjunctivitis. In this case, contact your vet, who will be able to advise you about the right treatment needed to get rid of the problem!