Do Cats Cry Tears? Feline Emotions and Eye Health

Name: Do Cats Cry Tears? Feline Emotions and Eye Health
Creator: Dr. Zubair Khalid

By Dr. Zubair Khalid, DVM, MS, PhD · 2026-10-02

Do cats cry tears when they feel sad? No. Cats have tear glands and they do produce tears, but those tears keep the eye healthy and drain into the nose. They are not an emotional response [1][2]. When a cat cries out, that sound usually signals stress, pain, or a need, not sadness with tears.

This article is educational and is not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis or treatment.

Quick Answer

Cats do not cry tears from sadness. Their tears lubricate and protect the eye, then drain through a duct into the nose [1][2].
Watery eyes or discharge in a cat point to a medical or structural cause, not emotion [1].
Some cats have a chronic overflow of tears called epiphora, and it is more common in Persian and Himalayan breeds [1].
Crying sounds (meowing, yowling) are communication. They can mean hunger, stress, pain, or a litter box problem.
Any cat that cries while straining in the litter box needs emergency veterinary care the same day.

Do Cats Cry Tears? What Is Actually Happening

A cat's eye works much like yours. The tear gland sits at the top outer edge of the eye and makes the watery part of tears. Those tears spread across the eye, then drain through the nasolacrimal duct system into the nose [1]. This is why a cat with a blocked duct can have a wet eye and a runny nose on the same side.

The eye itself has several parts that matter here. The cornea is the clear dome at the front that lets light in and helps focus it on the retina. The conjunctiva is a thin membrane that covers the front of the eye and the inside of the eyelids [2]. When the conjunctiva is irritated, the eye waters more. That is a physical response, not a feeling.

So can cats have tears? Yes, all the time. Is it normal for a cat to cry tears from emotion? No. There is no evidence that cats shed tears when they are sad. What owners often see as crying is either normal tear drainage, an eye problem, or a vocalization.

Do kittens cry?

Kittens vocalize a lot, especially when they are hungry, cold, or separated from their mother or littermates. That is a distress call, not tears of sadness. Kittens can also have watery eyes from the same medical causes that affect adult cats, including infections and blocked ducts [1]. A kitten with a swollen, squinting, or cloudy eye needs to be seen promptly because eye problems in young cats can threaten vision.

Do cats cry when sad?

Cats feel stress, fear, and frustration, and they show it through body language, hiding, appetite changes, and vocalizing. A cat that seems "sad" may actually be stressed, bored, in pain, or sick. If your cat's behavior has changed, treat it as a health question first. A veterinarian can check for pain and illness before you assume an emotional cause.

Why Your Cat's Eyes Water: Medical Causes to Rule Out

When a cat has tears running down the face, the cause is usually one of these.

Blocked tear ducts and epiphora

Epiphora is a chronic overflow of tears caused by an obstruction of the nasal duct. It is more common in Persian and Himalayan breeds. In most cases, there is no reason for concern because it does not lead to medical problems. If the appearance bothers you, the condition can be corrected surgically [1].

Infection, foreign objects, and trauma

Disorders of the tear gland and tear ducts can be present at birth or caused by infection, foreign objects in the eye, or trauma [1]. A foreign body like a grass awn or a piece of grit scratches the cornea and triggers heavy watering. Infections cause discharge that may be clear, yellow, or green.

Dry eye

Not enough tear production is also a problem. When the tear film is poor, the eye becomes irritated and may water as a reflex, or it may look dull and red. Your veterinarian can measure tear production with a test called the Schirmer tear test. In one clinical study of male cats, tear production dropped significantly within minutes after a drug called etomidate was given at 2 mg/kg intravenously, along with a drop in total antioxidant capacity in the tears [3]. That finding is about an anesthetic drug, not about sadness, but it shows that tear production is a measurable medical value that can change with health and medication.

Other eye disease

Cats get many of the same eye problems people do, including cataracts and glaucoma [2]. These conditions can change how the eye looks and how much it waters. Any change in the eye's appearance deserves a veterinary exam. For a broader look at feline eye anatomy and common problems, see Cat Eyes: Understanding Feline Vision, Common Eye Problems & Care Tips.

When Tearing or Crying Becomes a Problem

Normal tear drainage is not a problem. It becomes one when you see any of these:

Discharge that is thick, yellow, green, or bloody
One eye that is much more watery than the other
Squinting, pawing at the eye, or keeping the eye closed
A cloudy, blue, or red eye
Swelling around the eye
A cat that stops eating or hides

Crying sounds are a separate issue. A cat that yowls at night may be bored, stressed, or in pain. Night vocalizing is common in older cats and in cats whose routine has changed. For more on that pattern, see Cat Crying At Night and Why Is My Cat Crying at Night?.

One crying pattern is a true emergency. If your cat cries while straining in the litter box, or cries when urinating and produces little or no urine, that can mean a urinary blockage. This is life threatening, especially in male cats. Read Why Is My Cat Crying in litter box? Urinary Blockage Emergency Triage and call an emergency clinic right away.

What to Do Step by Step

Step 1: Look at the eye, not the emotion

Check both eyes in good light. Note which eye is affected, whether the discharge is clear or colored, and whether your cat squints. Take a photo so you can compare over the next day. Photos of the eye can also help your veterinarian, and the same idea applies to tracking visible health changes over time, as discussed in Cat Stock Photography: What Images Reveal About Feline Health.

Step 2: Keep the eye clean and stop the irritation

Use a clean, damp cotton pad to gently wipe discharge from the closed eye, working from the inner corner outward. Use a fresh pad for each eye. Do not let your cat rub the eye against furniture or carpet. If you see a foreign object on the surface of the eye, do not try to remove it yourself. That is a job for a veterinarian.

Step 3: Reduce stress if the crying is behavioral

Cats respond well to predictable routines and to having control over their space. In a study of cats in a cat café, elevated structures mattered a lot, and cats preferred vertical levels or cat-only rooms when customer occupancy was high [4]. At home, that translates to cat trees, shelves, and quiet rooms your cat can reach without being cornered.

Cat-human contact is not always wanted. In that same study, cat-human interactions were absent in 44.4% of observed time, and cats varied from engaging to avoiding [4]. Let your cat choose when to interact. Forced handling backfires. A study of owner-cat interactions found that passive interactions were linked to increased oxytocin and decreased cortisol, while forced interactions showed the opposite pattern. Cats with secure attachment styles had more positive hormonal responses than insecure cats, which showed increased cortisol or limited hormonal response [5].

Step 4: Make vet visits easier

Stress at the clinic is real. Owners at clinics without feline-only areas or hours reported more difficulty getting cats out of carriers and giving medication at home. Their cats were more often scruffed (18.4% versus 7.4%) or sedated (10.3% versus 2.5%), and the presence of other species increased perceived stress [6]. Ask whether your clinic offers feline-only hours. Bring your cat in a carrier that opens from the top, and cover it with a towel in the waiting room.

A synthetic feline facial pheromone product may help. In a study of healthy cats during cardiovascular exams, researchers compared assessments without pheromone exposure and after exposure using diffuser and spray formulations, with a 20-minute acclimation period in carriers [7]. Ask your veterinarian whether a pheromone spray on the carrier or a diffuser in the room is worth trying for your cat.

Step 5: Track the pattern

Write down when the tearing or crying happens. Note the time of day, what happened before, and whether food, play, or the litter box was involved. Patterns help your veterinarian narrow the cause quickly.

What Not to Do

Do not punish a crying cat. Punishment adds stress and can make vocalizing worse. It also does not treat pain or illness.
Do not assume tears mean sadness. Watery eyes have physical causes [1].
Do not use human eye drops or leftover pet medications without veterinary guidance. Some drops can harm a cat's eye.
Do not scruff your cat to move or restrain it. Owners at clinics without feline-only areas reported more scruffing, and those cats were also more likely to need sedation [6].
Do not ignore a cat that cries in the litter box. That is a possible urinary emergency.
Do not force interaction with a cat that is hiding or avoiding you. Forced contact raised cortisol in the cats studied [5].

When to Call Your Veterinarian

Call the same day if your cat has colored or bloody eye discharge, a swollen or cloudy eye, a squint that lasts more than a few hours, or a sudden change in behavior with crying.

Go to an emergency clinic now if your cat cries while straining to urinate, produces no urine, vomits, or seems weak. A blocked urethra is fatal without treatment.

Schedule a routine visit if the tearing is long standing, if only one eye waters, or if your cat's night crying has become a habit. Long-standing epiphora in a flat-faced breed may be harmless, but a veterinarian should confirm that [1].

Limitations and When to Contact a Veterinarian

This article covers common patterns, not your individual cat. Tear production, eye pressure, and duct patency are things only a veterinarian can measure. A cat cannot tell you that an eye hurts, and cats often hide discomfort until it is advanced. If you are unsure whether your cat's tears or crying are normal, book an exam. One visit can separate a harmless quirk from a problem that needs treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do cats cry tears when they are sad?

No. Cats produce tears to protect and moisten the eye, and those tears drain into the nose through the nasolacrimal duct [1]. Sadness does not trigger tear production in cats. If your cat's eyes are wet, look for a physical cause.

Can cats have tears without any eye problem?

Yes. Some cats have epiphora, a chronic overflow of tears from a blocked nasal duct, and it usually causes no medical problems [1]. It is more common in Persian and Himalayan breeds. If the wetness bothers you or the fur stays stained, ask your veterinarian about options.

Is it normal for a cat to cry tears on one side only?

No. Tears on one side suggest a problem in that eye or that tear duct, such as an obstruction, infection, or injury [1]. A veterinarian should examine the eye and check the duct. Bring notes about when it started and whether the discharge has changed color.

Do kittens cry for attention?

Kittens vocalize to get care, food, and warmth, and that is normal communication. Constant crying, crying with a swollen or squinting eye, or crying with poor weight gain is not normal. Have a veterinarian check a kitten that cries a lot or has watery eyes.

Does a cat's tear production change with medication?

Yes. Tear production is a measurable value that drugs can affect. In one study, tear production fell significantly in cats given etomidate at 2 mg/kg intravenously, along with a drop in tear antioxidant capacity [3]. If your cat is on medication and has new eye watering or dryness, tell your veterinarian.

References

Disorders of the Nasal Cavity and Tear Ducts in Cats - Cat Owners. Merck Veterinary Manual.
Eye Structure and Function in Cats - Cat Owners. Merck Veterinary Manual.
The Impact of Etomidate on Tear Secretion and Oxidative Stress Markers in Domestic Male Cats: A Clinical Study. Veterinary medicine international, 2026.
Cats in a Cat Café: Individual Cat Behavior and Interactions with Humans. Animals : an open access journal from MDPI, 2025.
EXPRESS: The hormonal effects of owner-cat interactions on pet cats of different potential attachment styles. Journal of feline medicine and surgery, 2026.
EXPRESS: Feline stress through owners' eyes: Comparing perceptions in veterinary clinics with and without designated feline-only areas or hours. Journal of feline medicine and surgery, 2026.
Effects of a synthetic feline facial pheromone analogue (F3, Feliway®) on stress and cardiovascular parameters during clinical examination in cats: a prospective crossover study. BMC veterinary research, 2026.