Why Is My Cat Keeping One Eye Closed / Squinting One Eye?

Cats are born hunters with wide-open, attentive eyes. The only time this rule does not apply is while your cat is sleeping.

A cat with one eye closed all the time indicates that something is bothering it.

A cat may close one eye temporarily due to irritation. If your cat is closing its eyes, it has an infection. Conjunctivitis is indicated by a red, itchy eye (pink eye.) If your cat’s eye is enlarged, it might be suffering from glaucoma. Examine your cat’s iris for an ulcer or cataract.

We’ll explain why your cat is squinting one eye in this article.

We’ll also address some other commonly asked concerns and provide some key information to assist you to understand the causes of your cat’s squinting and avoid vision-related issues.

Why Is My Cat Squinting One Eye?

Cats squint one eye because of inflammation or conjunctivitis. It might also be a sign of blepharospasm or corneal ulcers. Cats squinting one eye can be caused by anisocoria, glaucoma, and other eye problems.

Cats’ eyes are incredibly expressive. A happy, healthy cat will have eyes that are the same size.

A cat with an eye condition would frequently claw and paw at its eye. As a result, you will detect redness around the eyes.

Your cat may be squinting one eye for one of five causes. It’s possible that your cat’s eyes are irritated or infected. Conjunctivitis and blepharospasm may also be present in your cat.

Squinting, on the other hand, can suggest eye problems such as anisocoria, corneal ulcers, or glaucoma.

Because of eye inflammation, your cat is squinting one eye. Several irritants, such as dust, strong scents, or smoke, might irritate your cat’s eyes and cause pain.

Furthermore, any foreign body that enters your cat’s eye inadvertently might cause discomfort. As a result, your cat may squint or rub its eye excessively, indicating discomfort and suffering.

Conjunctivitis, sometimes known as pink eye, is a common cause of squinting in cats. It’s a contagious condition that affects cats and can be caused by viral or bacterial infections in the eyes.

An upper respiratory infection can induce conjunctivitis in cats in many circumstances. A runny eye with grey, yellow, or green discharge may appear in your cat.

Blepharospasm can cause cats to squint one eye. It’s a disorder in which your cat’s eyelids get puffy and inflamed. As a result, your cat begins to blink or squint one eye. In this case, water discharge is also a possibility.

Blepharospasm is caused by inflammation of the eyes, allergies, or bacterial and fungal infections.

Squinting one eye might be an indication of corneal ulcers in your cat. Corneal ulcers are caused by damage to the eyes, structural anomalies, infections, and dry eyes.

Your pet may be in excruciating discomfort, rubbing and squinting its eyes constantly. Corneal ulcers are treatable with the right medicine and care.

So, if you see your cat squinting or scratching its eyes in an odd way, you should take it to the doctor right once.

It’s possible that your pet’s squinting one eye is an indication of glaucoma. This issue arises when your cat’s eyes do not receive appropriate drainage for aqueous fluid.

Glaucoma can be caused by a variety of factors, including anatomical abnormalities, increased intraocular pressure, long-term eye injuries, eye tumors, and lens deterioration.

Squinting, visual losses, unresponsive pupils, lack of appetite, lethargy, and other symptoms may appear in your cat.

Do Cats Squint When In Pain?

When your feline companion is in pain or distress, it may squint one eye.

Squinting for an extended period of time can be caused by eye-related conditions such as irritation, conjunctivitis, blepharospasm, and corneal ulcers.

When your feline pal is in discomfort, its pupils might constrict or dilate.

It would be beneficial if you scheduled an appointment with your veterinarian to properly identify and treat this issue.

Why Is My Cat’s Eye Half Closed?

For a variety of causes, your cat’s eye may be half-closed. Due to illnesses in the upper respiratory system, your cat may have eye discomfort or conjunctivitis.

Squinting in cats can also be caused by blepharospasm.

Furthermore, owing to eye-related disorders such as symblepharon, anisocoria, corneal ulcers, and glaucoma, your cat may continually half-close its eye.

What To Do When The Cat Is Squinting One Eye?

If you are certain that your cat’s eyes are irritated, you can try washing them with an eye-wash solution.

In such a scenario, you’ll need two bowls, one for each eye.

However, you should first visit your veterinarian to ensure that the irritation isn’t an indication of any other eye disorders.

Perfumes, smoke, dust, cleaning chemicals, and other irritants are some of the most frequent eye irritants for cats.

However, anything that gets in your cat’s eye by mistake might cause irritation, and your cat will squint or rub its eyes to exhibit pain.

There may also be redness and drainage. Because your cat’s eyes are such a delicate part of his body, you should be cautious while treating any eye-related discomfort.

An infection in a cat’s eye cannot heal on its own and requires prompt diagnosis and treatment. Conjunctivitis, upper respiratory infections, corneal diseases, epiphora, and uveitis are all causes.

Infections in your cat’s eyes can cause redness, irregular blinking, squinting, watery discharge, and acute pain.

If you don’t contact a veterinarian and treat your kitty companion properly, it may lose or impair its vision. When you notice any indication of an eye infection, you should not wait for it to go away on its own.

Instead, you should seek immediate medical advice from your veterinarian. An eye-wash solution can be used to cure your cat’s inflamed eyes.

If your cat permits it, gently rinse the eye-wash solution out of their eyes. You can only do so if you’re positive the discomfort is caused by dust, smoke, perfume, or other strong scents.

Consult your veterinarian if your cat is blinking excessively or squinting unusually. He or she will be able to assist you in overcoming your cat’s discomfort.

There are a few more factors to consider when it comes to squinting and vision difficulties. Other eye-related disorders may cause your feline companion to squint one eye.

Can I Give My Cat Human Eye Drops?

To treat your cat’s eye issues, never use human eye drops.

If you notice any illnesses or disorders in your cat’s eyes, you should see a veterinarian right once.

Following the appropriate diagnostic, your veterinarian will advise you on the best therapy for your cat.

Even if your cat’s eyes have redness, discharge, or other small problems, you should get advice from your veterinarian.

Keep in mind that the eyes are particularly vulnerable. As a result, it would be beneficial if you approached the situation with caution and seriousness.

What If My Cat Is Squinting One Eye And Sneezing?

When your cat squints and sneezes, it indicates that they are suffering from an eye infection.

Bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites can all cause infection. In many situations, upper respiratory infections in cats produce ocular infections.

Symptoms such as rubbing and squinting, redness and swelling, eye discharge, sneezing, and nasal discharge may appear in your cat. In this instance, you must ensure that your cat has adequate rest.

You should also gently wipe away the discharge and give your cat nutritious food and plenty of water.

Not to add, you should contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Why My Cat’s Eyes are Red Around the Edges?

Cats with red-ringed eyes are abnormal. Minor ocular trauma, such as being poked in the eye, may have occurred in your cat.

It’s possible that your cat brushed up against a branch or scratched itself while grooming.

If the trauma is little, it will usually heal on its own.

Your cat will otherwise behave normally, with the exception of a little increase in blinking. The redness will begin to fade within 1-2 hours.

If this isn’t the case, your cat is most likely suffering from conjunctivitis or an eye infection. The initial symptom is redness in the eye.

Why My Cat Blinks One Eye More Than the Other?

Cats do blink, but only on rare occasions. It’s possible that you’ll never notice your cat winking.

This isn’t a reason for concern in and of itself. However, you may see your cat blinking one eye.

This might be due to the fact that your cat is:

• Affectionate expression
• Having to deal with a foreign item stuck in its eye

The slow blink of a cat is a sign of love. This is referred to as a “cat kiss” by many.

If your cat blinks rapidly in one eye, it is most likely irritated, and the blinking is an attempt to relieve the inflammation.

Why Does My Cat Sleep with One Eye Open?

Cats, being inherently wary creatures, feel exposed while sleeping. So, it’s possible that your cat is sleeping with one eye open.

This isn’t the case at all. The nictating membrane is a translucent third eyelid seen in cats.

This is found underneath the conjunctiva at the corner of your cat’s eye.

When your cat sleeps, this eyelid shuts. This allows you to cat nap while keeping vigilant for danger. If your cat notices movement, it will respond fast.

It’s possible that your cat isn’t sleeping.

A sleeping cat’s eyelids will flutter, indicating that it has entered REM sleep, according to Experimental Neurology.

Also, check out do cats sleep with their eyes open

Can I Prevent Eye Problems in Cats?

It’s not always feasible to keep a cat’s eye from being infected. These difficulties might be hereditary, or they might emerge as a result of age and lifestyle.

It’s possible that keeping a cat indoors can decrease your exposure to eye dangers. Your cat will avoid confrontation by avoiding interacting with other pets.

Infection or eye damage is clearly reduced when there is no fighting.

A yearly eye check for your cat is recommended to catch any problems early.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Words

If your cat spends most of the day squinting one eye or rubbing his eyes and head, it’s not a good indication.

Don’t dismiss such signs.

If you can’t figure out what’s wrong, see a veterinarian and your infant should be evaluated by a veterinarian on a frequent basis.

I hope you found out why your cat is squinting one eye.

Please let us know if you have any questions in the comments section.