Why Does My Cat Have White, Sticky Eye Discharge?

1 Why Does My Cat Have White, Sticky Eye Discharge?

A cat’s eyes are normally clear and bright, and occasional tearing from irritation clears up fast. But persistent white, sticky discharge may mean one of the following:

1. Internal heat (diet-related)

A monotonous long-term diet easily causes internal heat; a sudden episode may also trace to a recent food change. Signs include heavier tear stains, constipation, and bad breath.

Adjust the diet to something light; avoid greasy, spicy, irritating, or salty food, and encourage drinking. For frequent episodes, a veterinary heat-clearing tablet can help cool the body.

2. Eye inflammation

White discharge can come from bacterial conjunctivitis. Cats groom often and may scratch their eyes; invisible germs on their paws then enter the eye and cause infection.

Use a veterinary antibacterial eye drop to reduce inflammation and fight bacteria, and clean the eye corners daily to ease discomfort and limit bacterial growth. If infection is severe with pus, see a vet promptly.

3. A foreign object in the eye

Foreign bodies—fur, pollen, dust, small insects—irritate the eyeball and increase discharge and infection. Check the eye; if tears can’t flush it out, have a vet remove it with eyewash or proper tools.

4. Illness

A cold brings sneezing, runny nose, and tearing; feline rhinotracheitis virus causes similar signs plus swollen, pus-weeping eyes. So if white discharge comes with runny nose or sneezing, see a vet first—for a cold, use a pet cold medicine; for rhinotracheitis, follow our guide on treating that condition.

Whatever the cause, white eye discharge is abnormal. If you can’t tell, take the cat to a vet or consult an online veterinarian before it worsens.