Cat eye injury
Cats hide eye pain as squinting and hiding. Same-day care beats waiting for an obvious worse look.
Do this first
| Scenario | Eye injury |
|---|---|
| Vet vs poison control vs ER | Eye trauma and chemical exposure are veterinary emergencies or same-day urgent cases. Poison control may advise on chemical ID, but the pet still needs ocular exam. Sudden blindness or a prolapsed eye is ER now. |
Immediate action steps
- Prevent pawing with an Elizabethan collar if you have one
- Do not rub the eye or apply leftover medicated drops from another pet
- If a chemical splashed the eye, flush with sterile saline or clean water for several minutes on the way to care
- Keep the pet in dim light if light-sensitive
- Seek veterinary care the same day for squinting, cloudiness, visible trauma, or discharge after injury
Fight wounds
Cat-to-cat scratches often seed infection. Even small corneal injuries can become ulcers.
Keep claws away with an E-collar.
Handling
Dim lights help light-sensitive cats. Avoid forcing the lids open repeatedly.
Carrier transport; call ahead if the eye looks bulging or bleeding.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Contact your vet for anything urgent or unclear.
FAQ
- One squint after a scuffle — wait?
- Call for same-day advice. Waiting overnight is how ulcers deepen.