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Is it safe to clean my kitten's eye discharge with water? How often?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered | 2 lbs

Good morning! My kitten has conjunctivitis. He has a vet appointment tomorrow. I've been cleaning his gunk from his eyes with a clean warm cloth. Will that give him a rash or bother him when I do that? Will it make it worse ? I've been doing it every 20 or 30 minutes. Is it safe to put drops of water in his eyes to clean it so it can come out on its own ? Or will that bother him a lot ?

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2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Lauren Barry, BVSc, MRCVS, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on October 23rd, 2017

It is a good idea to wipe away the discharge with a warm clean wash cloth or soft tissue. I suggest a cloth soaked with warm water or eye wash solution - every 1-3hrs is plenty often enough. Your vet will examine Sprinkles, maybe suggest an eye stain test to check for corneal ulcers (which can occur with feline herpes), and will probably dispense an antibiotic ointment.

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    Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

    Licensed Veterinary Technician

    Published on May 2nd, 2017

    You can use a soft washcloth moistened with warm water to clean the area. You may need to let it soak to soften up the hair and discharge. If Alex's eyes continue to have discharge, have him examined by a veterinarian to diagnose infection or injury.

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