My young outdoor cat has an eye injury. Can I wait to see a vet?

Cats with really painful eyes (such as from a scratch to the cornea or something stuck in the eyelids) will elevate their third eyelids to help protect the eye. Though some types of neck injuries can damage a nerve to works in the face and can also cause this to happen. Since I am concerned that this beautiful kitty is in pain, I would recommend taking her to the emergency vet. After the examination, discuss financial constraints with the vet to determine what can be done to alleviate pain but still fit within the budget you have set. Many times we are able to come up with plans B and C to do what we can to help the pet!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Kitty. I recommend that he sees a veterinarian. He needs to be examined and the extent of his injuries determined. His eye will need to evaluated. It appears as though his third eyelid may be elevated and possibly damaged. The veterinarian will determine if medication such as antibiotics are warranted. If there is eye disease, such as a corneal ulcer or scratch across the eye, this will require specific treatment. Surgery is possible if there is an infection under the skin such as an abscess. If he is not as active, this is likely because he does not feel well. In the meantime, encourage him to eat and drink. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to cats. I hope this information helps!

So it appears the third eyelid is showing, which means Oreo either has an eye infection or has injured her eye. Any eye problem is considered an emergency because leaving it untreated can lead to vision loss. I would take her into your closest vet now. Best of luck.

If there is an emergency vet within a reasonable distance, I would recommend that Willie get checked out sooner than later. Eye problems can be very painful, and can go from bad to worse very quickly (even overnight). There can be many causes of squinting an eye, including something stuck under the eyelid, corneal abrasion or ulcer, autoimmune disease, among a few others. Without personally seeing it I can't be certain, but what you may be seeing with him "looking to the upper right" is the effect of a raised third eyelid covering the inner part of the eye to make it look weird. You can try to flush the eye with a saline eye rinse, but do not apply any medications topically. Keep him inside in a dim room since bright light makes many eye problems more painful.

Tinkerbell's eye lid does appear to have some sort of tear or ulceration. This could be related to trauma or a viral infection. Tears on the eyelid should be care for quickly. I recommend to have Tinkerbell examined by his veterinarian within the next day. Make sure to protect the area from rubbing by having him wear an elizabethan collar at all times. Rubbing the eye can make it worse. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

I recommend bringing Chester to the veterinarian. A torn eyelid can cause irritation to the cornea and pain and annoyance for Chester. If you can't get to a veterinarian tomorrow you can put an ecollar on him until you can get to a veterinarian. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I am so sorry to hear that Buzz is experiencing these problems with his eye. Thank you for providing an excellent picture, it seems as through the third eyelid is protruding. This is a common sign that there is an issue in the eye of a cat. Start by placing an e-collar or cone on Buzz to prevent scratching or rubbing. If the eye is infected it is likely painful, this will prompt Buzz to scratch or rub his eye. However, this could inflict further damage, infection or even an ulceration. Because eye concerns with cats, such as infections, corneal ulcerations, cataracts and glaucoma, can progress rapidly I would have him examined by your veterinarian to diagnose the issue. The precise medication can then be dispensed by your veterinarian. Please do not attempt to treat an eye infection at home with any over the counter medications, drops or ointments. This can lead to permanent damage and unnecessary pain or discomfort. I hope this answer was helpful and that Buzz feels better soon. Warmest regards to you both!