# Sick Kitten Eyes: Discharge, Runny Nose, and What to Do Sick kitten eyes usually mean an infection of the eye surface, the nose, or both, and most cases are caused by viruses or bacteria that spread easily between kittens. The eyes may look red, swollen, or crusted, and the nose often runs at the same time. Most kittens recover well with early treatment, but some eye problems can damage vision if they are ignored. This article is educational and is not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis or treatment. ## Quick Answer - Clear or colored eye discharge plus sneezing and a runny nose in a kitten under a year old points to an infectious cause, most often viral or bacterial [1]. - Normal kitten eyes are bright, open, and free of crust. A small amount of clear tearing after sleep is fine, but yellow, green, or thick discharge is not. - You can gently clean crusted eyes and nose at home with a warm damp cloth, but do not use human eye drops or leftover pet medications. - A kitten that stops eating, breathes through an open mouth, or has a swollen or cloudy eye needs to be seen the same day. - Never give human cold medicine, and never give any medication without a veterinarian's direction. ## What Sick Kitten Eyes Look Like and What Is Normal A healthy kitten eye is clear, moist, and fully open. The conjunctiva, the thin pink membrane that lines the eyelids and covers the white of the eye, should be pale pink and smooth [2]. A tiny bit of clear tearing when a kitten wakes up is normal. Sick kitten eyes look different in obvious ways. You may see: - Clear, cloudy, yellow, or green discharge at the inner corner or matted on the lashes - Red, puffy conjunctiva in one or both eyes - Squinting, blinking, or holding one eye partly shut - A dull or cloudy surface on the eye itself - Crust that glues the eyelids together overnight When the nose is involved too, you will often see sneezing, clear or thick nasal discharge, and noisy breathing. Owners searching for sick kitten runny nose and eyes are usually describing exactly this pattern, and it is one of the most common reasons young cats see a veterinarian. ### Is sleeping with eyes open normal? Some cats sleep with their eyes partly open, and this can be normal in light sleep. A sick kitten sleeping with eyes open is more concerning when the eye looks dry, red, or crusted, or when the kitten also has discharge. If the eye stays open during deep sleep and looks irritated, have it checked. Dryness from an eye that does not close fully can damage the cornea over time. ## Main Causes of Sick Kitten Eyes Most kitten eye and nose problems come from infections that spread through shelters, pet stores, and multi-cat homes. Chlamydial conjunctivitis is an infection of the membrane around the eye caused by Chlamydia felis and Chlamydia pneumoniae bacteria, and most affected cats are less than a year old [1]. Signs include clear or colored eye discharge, red and swollen conjunctivae in one or both eyes, nasal discharge, and sneezing [1]. Viral causes are also common. In one study of cats with rhinitis, feline herpesvirus was found in 39.1 percent of affected cats compared with 8.1 percent of healthy controls, and Mycoplasma species were found in 28.3 percent of cats with rhinitis compared with 5.4 percent of healthy cats [3]. This tells you that eye and nose signs often come from more than one organism at the same time. Tear drainage problems can also cause watery eyes. The nasolacrimal duct system carries tears from each eye into the nose, and disorders of these structures can lead to eyes that water excessively or eyes that are too dry [4]. These problems may be present at birth or caused by infection, foreign objects, or trauma [4]. | Cause | Typical clues | How urgent | |---|---|---| | Chlamydial infection | Clear or colored eye discharge, red swollen conjunctiva, nasal discharge, sneezing, kitten under 1 year [1] | See a vet within 24 to 48 hours | | Feline herpesvirus or calicivirus | Sneezing, runny nose, watery or thick eye discharge, often after stress or shelter exposure [3] | See a vet within 24 hours if the kitten is eating poorly | | Mycoplasma species | Rhinitis with nasal and eye discharge, often alongside herpesvirus [3] | See a vet within 24 to 48 hours | | Blocked tear duct | Constant watering of one eye, staining below the eye, resistant conjunctivitis [4] | Routine visit unless the eye is painful | | Foreign object or trauma | Sudden squinting, swelling, bleeding under the conjunctiva [2] | Emergency if the eye is held shut or bulging | | Corneal ulcer or injury | Cloudy eye, severe squinting, pawing at the face | Emergency, same day | If your kitten has a runny nose along with watery eyes, our guide to [Cat Runny Nose Watery Eyes](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/clinical-methods/cat-runny-nose-watery-eyes) walks through the same set of causes. ## Red Flags That Make It an Emergency Some eye signs cannot wait. Contact an emergency veterinary clinic right away if you see any of these: - The kitten holds one eye tightly shut or will not let you touch the face - The eye looks cloudy, blue, or bulging - There is bleeding under the conjunctiva with no known injury, which can signal trauma, a blood disorder, or an infectious disease and requires a full examination [2] - The kitten is breathing through an open mouth, gasping, or breathing fast - The kitten is limp, cold, or will not eat or drink for more than a few hours - Sudden vision loss or a pupil that does not react to light A kitten with a swollen shut eye and a fever can go downhill in hours. Young kittens have little reserve, and dehydration from not nursing or eating is a serious risk. ## Safe Things You Can Do at Home While Waiting Home care supports comfort. It does not replace treatment. ### Clean the eyes and nose gently Use a clean, soft cloth or cotton pad dampened with warm water. Wipe from the inner corner outward, one stroke per pad, and use a fresh pad for each eye so you do not spread infection between eyes. Soak dried crust for a few seconds before wiping so you do not pull on the eyelid. Do the same for the nose, wiping gently and never pushing anything into the nostril. ### Keep the kitten eating and drinking Warm wet food slightly to boost the smell, since a stuffy nose dulls appetite. Offer water in a shallow dish. If the kitten will not eat for more than 12 hours, call your veterinarian. ### Reduce spread to other cats Chlamydia bacteria can occasionally pass from cats to people, so wash your hands well after handling a sick kitten and keep its bedding and bowls separate [1]. Untreated cats can spread chlamydial infection to other cats for months after an infection, so keep the kitten away from other cats until your veterinarian clears it [1]. ### What not to do Do not use human eye drops, human cold medicines, or antibiotics left over from another pet. Do not use a saline flush meant for contact lenses. Do not try to open an eye that is glued shut with force. If you are unsure whether discharge is normal, our article on [Cat Eye Discharge: Normal or Infection?](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/online-vet-and-care-costs/cat-eye-discharge-normal-or-infection) breaks down the differences. ## What Your Veterinarian Will Check and Test Your veterinarian will start with a full physical examination, including the eyes, nose, mouth, and lungs. They will check the conjunctiva for redness and swelling and look at the cornea with a bright light. If a corneal ulcer is suspected, they will place a stain on the eye to look for damage. For tear duct problems, your veterinarian may flush the duct with sterile water or saline to try to unblock it [4]. X-rays of the skull after injecting a dye into the duct may be needed to find the site, cause, and outlook of long-term obstructions [4]. When a tear duct is permanently damaged, surgery may be needed to create a new drainage pathway into the nasal cavity, sinus, or mouth [4]. If the discharge is thick or the eye is not improving, your veterinarian may swab the eye or nose and send it for testing. Bacterial culture can identify which organisms are present and which antibiotics will work, since resistance patterns vary [5]. In one study of cats and dogs with conjunctivitis, about 32 percent of cat samples grew bacteria on culture, and some animals had more than one type of bacteria [5]. Treatment usually depends on the cause. Chlamydial infection is treated with antibiotics, and eye drops or ointments are common for bacterial conjunctivitis [4][1]. Viral infections do not respond to antibiotics, so treatment focuses on supportive care, keeping the eyes clean, and treating any secondary bacterial infection. Your veterinarian will calculate any medication dose from your kitten's weight and health, so never guess at a dose yourself. If your kitten is sneezing heavily along with the eye signs, see [Cat Sneezing and Nasal Discharge: When to See a Vet](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/vet-visit-decisions/cat-sneezing-nasal-discharge) for more on what those signs mean. ## Prevention and Monitoring Prevention is mostly about hygiene and early action. - Keep new kittens separate from resident cats for at least two weeks and wash your hands between handling them. - Clean food bowls, water bowls, and litter boxes daily. - Keep the kitten's face clean so discharge does not build up and irritate the skin. - Watch for the first sign of redness or tearing, since early treatment shortens the course. - Follow up with your veterinarian if signs last longer than a few days. Chlamydial signs are most severe 9 to 13 days after onset and then subside over 2 to 3 weeks, but in some cats signs can last for weeks despite treatment, and recurrence is not uncommon [1]. - Keep up with routine kitten vaccines and wellness visits, since a healthy kitten fights infection better. Track what you see each day. Note which eye is affected, the color and amount of discharge, whether the nose is running, and whether the kitten is eating, playing, and using the litter box. This record helps your veterinarian choose the right tests and treatment. ## Limitations and When to Contact a Veterinarian No article can tell you what is happening in your kitten's specific eye. A veterinarian needs to examine the eye, test the cornea, and sometimes culture the discharge to know the cause. Individual cases need a veterinarian. Call for an emergency visit now if the eye is swollen shut, bulging, cloudy, bleeding, or if the kitten is breathing through an open mouth or is limp and not eating. Call for a same-day visit if there is thick yellow or green discharge, the kitten is squinting, the nose is blocked enough to stop eating, or the kitten seems painful around the face. Schedule a routine visit if there is mild clear discharge with no squinting, a single watery eye that has been wet for more than a few days, or a blocked tear duct that keeps coming back [4]. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Can I use human eye drops on my kitten? No. Human eye drops can contain preservatives or medications that irritate or damage a kitten's eye, and some are not sterile for repeated use. Only use products your veterinarian prescribes for your kitten. ### How long does kitten conjunctivitis last? Mild cases often improve within one to two weeks with treatment, but chlamydial signs can last for weeks in some cats and can come back after they seem to resolve [1]. If signs are not improving after a few days of treatment, call your veterinarian. ### Is it contagious to my other cats? Yes, the infections that cause kitten eye and nose discharge spread easily between cats. Keep the sick kitten separated, wash your hands after handling it, and do not share bowls, bedding, or toys until your veterinarian says it is safe [1]. ### Can a kitten go blind from eye discharge? Blindness is possible if a corneal ulcer, trauma, or severe infection goes untreated. Conjunctival problems can lead to blindness if not treated, which is why any squinting, cloudiness, or swelling needs prompt veterinary care [2]. ### Should I worry if my kitten sleeps with its eyes open? Sometimes, but not always. Light sleep with partly open eyes can be normal. It becomes a concern when the eye looks dry, red, or crusted, or when there is discharge, because the surface is not being kept moist. Have it checked if the eye stays open during deep sleep or looks irritated. ## Related Articles - [Cat Runny Nose Watery Eyes](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/clinical-methods/cat-runny-nose-watery-eyes) - [Cat Eye Discharge: When Should You Worry?](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/symptom-guides/cat-eye-discharge-when-to-worry) - [Cat Eye Discharge: Normal or Infection?](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/online-vet-and-care-costs/cat-eye-discharge-normal-or-infection) - [Cat Sneezing and Nasal Discharge: When to See a Vet](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/vet-visit-decisions/cat-sneezing-nasal-discharge) - [Cat Eye Discharge: Causes and When to See a Vet](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/online-vet-and-care-costs/cat-eye-discharge-causes-when-to-see-vet) - [Why Is My Cat having eye discharge? Herpesvirus Chlamydia and Conjunctivitis](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/symptom-guides/why-is-my-cat-having-eye-discharge-herpesvirus-chlamydia-and-conjunctivitis) ## References 1. [Chlamydial Conjunctivitis in Cats (Feline Pneumonitis) - Cat Owners](https://www.merckvetmanual.com/cat-owners/eye-disorders-of-cats/chlamydial-conjunctivitis-in-cats-feline-pneumonitis). Merck Veterinary Manual. 2. [Disorders of the Conjunctiva in Cats - Cat Owners](https://www.merckvetmanual.com/cat-owners/eye-disorders-of-cats/disorders-of-the-conjunctiva-in-cats). Merck Veterinary Manual. 3. [EXPRESS: Detection of Mycoplasma species and respiratory pathogens in cats with rhinitis and healthy cats](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42751890/). Journal of feline medicine and surgery, 2026. 4. [Disorders of the Nasal Cavity and Tear Ducts in Cats - Cat Owners](https://www.merckvetmanual.com/cat-owners/eye-disorders-of-cats/disorders-of-the-nasal-cavity-and-tear-ducts-in-cats). Merck Veterinary Manual. 5. [Microbiological investigation of conjunctivitis in cats and dogs from Kars, Türkiye (2024-2025): culture- and MALDI-TOF MS-based identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of bacterial isolates](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42750033/). BMC veterinary research, 2026. ## Further Reading - [Merck Veterinary Manual: Cat Owners](https://www.merckvetmanual.com/cat-owners) - [Cornell Feline Health Center: Health Information](https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information) - [American Veterinary Medical Association: Pet Care](https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare)