My Cat Has Watery Eyes—Should I Be Worried?

Have you noticed your cat’s eyes looking especially teary? It’s more common for cats than you may realize. Watery eyes in cats, otherwise known as epiphora, is characterized by excessive tearing, and it’s not unusual to see this eye problem in cats and kittens. That’s because cat eyes can be impacted a wide range of illnesses, and are also sensitive to chemicals, toxins and other substances in their environment. So what’s causing your cat’s watery eyes, and what should you do about it? We’re here to help.

Conjunctiva is what veterinarians call the bodily tissues that line the eyelids and cover part of the eye. When the conjunctiva becomes inflamed, it is called conjunctivitis or, more commonly, pink eye. This is one of the most common causes of watery eyes in cats.

Symptoms: In addition to excessive tearing, symptoms include:

• Squinting
• Pain
• Red eyes

Causes: Conjunctivitis is most often caused by bacterial (chlamydiosis) or viral infections (upper respiratory infections including feline herpesvirus and feline calicivirus), or parasitic infections. Conjunctivitis due to a bacterial infection will usually have copious yellow or green eye discharge, and the eyelids on the affected eye may be matted shut. Cats with upper respiratory infections often also have nasal discharge and sneezing, but not always.

Conjunctivitis can also be caused by:

• Trauma
• Irritation from chemicals
• Eyelid or eyelash abnormalities
• Tear duct abnormalities
• Immune-mediated disease.

Is My Cat at Risk? Kittens and outdoor cats are at increased risk of conjunctivitis, and severe viral eye infections can cause blindness. Cats with feline herpesvirus, feline leukemia virus or feline immunodeficiency virus are typically infected for life and will likely struggle with recurrent eye infections. Do your best to minimize stress in these individuals, as stress can cause recurrent flare-ups with conjunctivitis.

Treatment: Eye drops, typically prescribed by your vet.

Brachycephalic (smush-face) cats with short noses and rounded skulls, including Persian and Himalayan cat breeds, may have watery eyes due to an inability to close their eyes completely or because fur rubs on their face. These cats may benefit from eye lube and trimming fur away from the eyes. Speak to your veterinarian for recommendations.

Cat eyes make tears continually, which flow over the eye before draining out a tear duct. If your cat’s tear duct is blocked, either from birth or due to trauma, then the tears have nowhere to go and will flow over, causing watery eyes.

Is My Cat at Risk? Cats with blocked tear ducts are typically kittens and have no other signs than watery eyes with clear discharge.

Treatment: Surgical correction of the tear duct.

Uveitis is inflammation inside the eye itself. The condition is relatively common in cats. It can affect one or both eyes at once, and affected eyes are at higher risk for glaucoma (more on that below).

Causes:

• Bacterial infections
• Fungal infections
• Viral infections
• Parasites
• Metabolic diseases
• Immune-mediated diseases
• Cancer

Symptoms: Cats with uveitis typically feel pain in their eyes and are sensitive to light, causing cats to squint and paw at their eye. The affected eye may appear cloudy and red.

Is My Cat at Risk? Risk factors vary depending on the cause of uveitis. Younger cats and outdoor cats are at higher risk of infectious causes, while older cats are at higher risk of ocular tumors or immune mediated disease.

Treatment: Eye drops to resolve underlying cause and pain medication.

The cornea is the clear surface of the eye that your cat sees through. If the cornea is accidentally scratched or damaged in any way, it is very painful, and will cause watery eyes, redness, and squinting. Common corneal problems include:

• Corneal laceration, aka a scratched cornea
• Corneal ulcer: a small crater within your cat’s cornea, which may also cause a white spot on the surface of your cat’s eye
• Keratitis, an inflammatory corneal problem thought to be caused by feline herpesvirus or an immune-mediated disorder

These conditions can be very painful for your cat and some, like corneal ulcers, can cause blindness if left untreated. Corneal laceration, for example, is a medical emergency requiring immediate veterinary care.

Treatment: In general, eye drops are used to treat most corneal problems. The type of eye medication required depends on the underlying cause of the corneal problem. In some cases, surgery may be required to resolve deep or persistent corneal ulcers.

Whether they are seasonal or food-related, allergies can cause a cat’s eyes to water. It can be difficult to pinpoint the cause of a pet’s allergy, but your veterinarian can help you through the process. Our guides to cat seasonal allergies and food allergies can help, too.

Some tips for seasonal cat allergies and irritants:

1. Use a HEPA filter in your furnace and keep your cat indoors during high pollen counts.
2. Avoid using scented candles or essential oil diffusers in areas that your cat frequents.
3. If you use strong cleaning products, thoroughly ventilate the area and dry the products before exposing your cat.

If you suspect your cat has a food allergy, contact your veterinarian. They may recommend a food elimination trial to determine what your cat is allergic to so you can avoid feeding it to them.

If your cat has a foreign object, like a piece of grass or a toe nail, stuck in their eye, it will cause watery eyes. You may also see your cat pawing at their eye.

Treatment: Eye drops, pain medication, and surgical removal of the foreign object if necessary.

Glaucoma is caused by increased pressure inside the eyeball. It’s a very painful condition and causes blindness if left unattended.

Causes:

• Inflammatory disorders
• A tumor inside the eye

Symptoms: Cats with glaucoma will squint, paw at their eye, and have watery eyes.

Is My Cat at Risk? Glaucoma is usually a problem seen in older cats.

Treatment: Eye drops to save the eye and relieve cats’ pain. If the eye cannot be saved, then surgical removal of the blind eye is recommended.

In cats, watery eyes may be a mild issue that might not require any treatment, or it might be the precursor to a serious issue that can cause pain and blindness. In general:

• If your cat has watery eyes that aren’t red and is acting otherwise normal and happy, monitor them at home. If watery eyes persist more than 24 hours, call your vet for advice.
• If your cat has watery, red eyes, is squinting, hiding or acting otherwise sick in any way, call your vet to have your cat seen as soon as possible.
• If your cat has watery, red eyes, is pawing at their eye, acting blind, or if you see evidence of trauma to the eye or a foreign object in the eye, take your cat to a veterinarian immediately.

If you are worried in any way, call your vet for advice! As with most medical issues, it is always better to be safe than sorry and get help when you need it.