| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | Some of the more unpleasant feline infections, Feline |
| The most common disorder in cats is runny eyes. | | | | Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) virus, Feline Leukemia Virus |
| Infectious organisms such as the flu viruses or | | | | (FeLV), Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and |
| chlamydia cause conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the | | | | toxoplasmosis can all cause disease in the iris. |
| membranes lining the eyelids. This results in a | | | | The first sign an owner may notice is a change in |
| discharge which is either watery and runny or thick | | | | color of the eye. |
| and a greenish yellow color. | | | | Close examination reveals changes in the shape of |
| Occasionally a runny eye is caused by a disorder of | | | | the iris and the presence of debris in the fluid behind |
| the normal anatomy. | | | | the cornea. It is very difficult to distinguish which one |
| Tear glands continually produce secretions which | | | | of these infections has caused the abnormality, so |
| lubricate the surface of the eyeball and flush | | | | further investigation is always necessary. |
| particulate material into the tear ducts which then | | | | If there is a diseased iris, also have to consider the |
| drain into the nose. If there's a blockage of the | | | | possibility of a tumor. T he two most commonly |
| ducts, the tears have no choice but to spill over and | | | | encountered are lymphosarcoma, a solid form of |
| run down the face. Blockage can occur if there has | | | | leukemia, and melanoma, a cancer of the pigment |
| been previous damage to the ducts or if the cat has | | | | producing cells. |
| an abnormal anatomy. | | | | If an iris has been affected by a treatable condition, |
| Persian cats frequently have tear staining, partly | | | | it may be left with permanent color change and a |
| because their tear ducts are kinked and partly | | | | distorted shape because of adhesions or scar tissue |
| because their eyeball shape prevents effective | | | | produced during the healing response. Not all areas of |
| drainage. Chronic tear overspill causes a brown | | | | new pigment are associated with disease. Some cats, |
| staining on the fur which is most noticeable in pale | | | | particularly orange colored individuals, can develop little |
| colored cats. | | | | dark patches of pigment in the iris as they age, but |
| Runny eyes are also a result of tear overproduction | | | | any change in eye color should always be checked |
| if there is an irritation to the sensitive eyeball. The | | | | by your vet. |
| cause may be easily identified as in some longhaired | | | | The retina is a fine membranous structure which lines |
| cats where a clump of hair rubs the surface. Some | | | | the back of the eyeball. |
| can be much more difficult to detect; solitary | | | | Light passes through the pupil and the lens and lands |
| aberrant hairs may grow inside the eyelid and can | | | | on the retina. |
| only be discovered by carrying out an extremely | | | | There it stimulates nerve endings which cause |
| thorough examination under general anaesthetic. | | | | electrical signals to be sent to the brain where the |
| The cornea is the clear outer covering of the eyeball | | | | information is interpreted as vision. |
| and is a very sensitive structure. Flu infections can | | | | Any abnormality of the color, the reflectivity or the |
| sometimes extend beyond the membranes and also | | | | blood vessels indicates disease of the retina. One of |
| affect the corneas. In very young kittens, the | | | | the most serious conditions is a generalized |
| damage can be so severe that the cornea is | | | | degeneration of the retina. The retina appears to be |
| extensively scarred and the cat grows up visually | | | | very bright. |
| impaired or even blind. | | | | Blood vessels become much finer and in advanced |
| Most corneal disease is encountered as a result of a | | | | cases are barely visible. |
| bit of a punch up with another cat and a claw being | | | | The retina can detach from the underlying tissue if |
| poked in the eye. The puncture wound may be very | | | | there is a leakage or overproduction of fluid between |
| obvious, particularly if a bit of claw is left behind in | | | | the layers, or if there is bleeding. |
| the eyeball. | | | | High blood pressure resulting from kidney failure or an |
| In other cases there may be no apparent defects. | | | | overactive thyroid gland can cause this eye problem. |
| Mild corneal damage will heal well if the cat is | | | | Retinal detachments tend to be quite dramatic in |
| supported with antibiotics but more severe damage | | | | onset and owners report that the cat appears to |
| may require surgery. Stitching the eyelids together | | | | have gone blind overnight. The pupils are massively |
| often helps with the healing. | | | | dilated and instead of a smooth concave surface |
| The iris is the structure which gives the eye its color, | | | | there are billowing folds of retina. There is virtually no |
| ranging from pink in albinos, to blue in Siamese, | | | | hope of restoration of eyesight in these cases. |
| through all shades of yellows, coppers and greens. | | | | The thought of a blind cat is quite horrifying to most |
| The iris is a muscular structure which contracts and | | | | owners but a combination of the cat not knowing it's |
| expands in order to vary the amount of light which | | | | supposed to worry about its lack of vision and its |
| passes through to the back of the eye. | | | | other senses being so well developed means they |
| It has very delicate blood vessels and if a claw has | | | | actually cope remarkably well. If the environment is |
| managed to pierce through the cornea to the iris, the | | | | kept as constant as possible, most individuals adapt |
| bleeding can be very dramatic. | | | | very well to their surroundings. |