This cat has stuff in his eye?

Question

O yesterday two women found a small kitten lying in the street at first they thought he was dead but he was alive. anyway they went around asking if anyone lost him. At teh time my mother and were siting on our back proch. Since teh kitten is very young we decided that sinc etheer are so many with out himes we would save life since the women weren't allowed to have pets where they live. so we brought him in and he has been having trouble opening one of his eyes. he can eat watered down dry food as long as it is really soft but he has some white gunk in his eye. he might be two months but not sure maybe less. Anyone know what the white gunk is if so is it fatal do we need to take him to an emergancy vet? Keep in mind i don't have a whole lot of money and the kitten isn't mine it is my moms. Can I buy something at like a petco or pet smart to help with it or do we just need a damp cloth and clean it? nay help woudl be greatly appercated.

Answer 1

It could be herpes or some type of upper respiratory infection. If it's herpes, there's nothing you can do. Maybe just give her some Lysene (you sprinkle it on food like you would salt or cheese) to boost her immune system. If its a URI (which is like a kitty cold) then she might need some meds. Either way, it wouldn't cost too much and some vets might let you pay week by week instead of all at once.

Answer 2

Kittens are prone to an eye infection that is easily treatable but can kill them if left untreated.  I rescued two kittens a couple of summers ago, one of them was fine but the other’s eye was so infected she ended up losing the sight in that eye.  There had been a third kitten that had it in both eyes and we were too late to save him.

Gently wash his eyes with a clean warm wet washcloth, try to get the stuff off as best you can and encourage him to open her eyes. You will need to go this several times a day and especially in the mornings after he’s been sleeping.  If it crusts over you need to wash a little more thoroughly to get it off.  

(Treat it like you would if someone had pinkeye – wash your hands constantly and don’t use the washcloth for anything else, and wash it in very hot water between uses!)

A warm bath will help as well, just make sure to dry him well and keep him warm.

Get him to a vet, they will give you an antibiotic, probably an oral one and an ointment for the eyes.  If money is an issue, explain that he is a rescue.  My vet gave me a discount on the treatment for my rescues.  It still cost some money but it was worth every penny.  Both of those kitties now are in good homes and are quite happy.  

Some people say you can use the antibiotic ointment you get over the counter at the drugstore.  Don’t.  The active ingredient is the same but I asked a pharmacist what the difference was, and he said the OTC one is not sterile enough to put in anyone’s eyes.

Is he eating?  Give him kitten formula (never real milk) mixed with some canned cat food to make a paste.  You can get it at the grocery store.

Good luck!  Email me any time if you need some more info.

edited to add:

I noticed the poster below mentioed if it is herpes there is nothing you can do.  This is inaccurate.  Herpes is the infection to which I was referring - easily treated with antibiotics but fatal if ignored.  Like I said the kitten lost her sight in one eye but had it been treated sooner it probably would not have gotten so bad.

Answer 3

well, if there are stuff coming out of the eyes, it usually means the kitten has some sort of parasite and needs medical attention.

Kittens, can be a great deal of money within the first year... but anyway, i'd suggest to your mom to take her to the vet and get checked out.