What makes a cat's eyes stay dilated and large for several days?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
What would make a cat I was dilated as large as possible and last for days
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on January 11th, 2017
I'm assuming you mean that your cat's eyes have been dilated for days. It could be caused by pain, head trauma, or hypertension due to kidney disease or hyperthyroidism. This is not normal, and your cat needs to see a vet immediately.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on September 3rd, 2018
Hi there. No, it's not normal for the other eye to be completely dilated so much of the time. I would be concerned that she may have some vision issues in this eye. This could be caused by an age-related change such as retinal degeneration, or a systemic illness like high blood pressure or hyperthyroidism. I would recommend taking Oreo to the vet for an ophthalmic exam when you are able to. He/she may also recommend other tests such as a blood pressure check, lab work, etc. if needed to check for any problems that need to be treated.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
My Chartreux has both of her iris' dilated on a full time basis. The light is not bright in the house, we keep it closed up because of summer heat, but I'm becoming concerned that she seems to require full dilation all the time. Anything I should be
The main thing I would be worried about and cats that have persistently dilated pupils are issues with the right now which is the covering on the back of the eye. Middle-aged to older cats can develop high blood pressure as well as kidney issues that can cause the retina to be damaged, leading to blindness and persistently dilated pupils. I would recommend having your veterinarian examine Athenais's eyes to make sure everything's normal and there's no underlying disease that needs to be addressed.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My 14yo cats eyes are dilated in bright light and he has a tender spot near his nose. He was outside for about 2hrs today (normal) and when i came home he was behaving strange. He was cowering and hid under the bed. He came out for dinner and treats
I would recommend a vet visit. If he was outdoors it's impossible to know what trauma may have occurred, or in an older cat hypertension or cardiovascular event is a potential worry with dilated eyes. To be safe I would recommend getting him to the vet today. In the case of head trauma or even hypertension the sooner treatment is instituted the better the long-term outcome. I hope HeyZeus is back to normal soon. Thank you for using Boop by Petco
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hello, I wanted to ask a question about my one-eyed cat. My cat was attacked my a hawk about two, three years ago. We had the eye that was infected removed from it about a few months later, and she's been living a good life since then. But, it concer
Hi there. No, it's not normal for the other eye to be completely dilated so much of the time. I would be concerned that she may have some vision issues in this eye. This could be caused by an age-related change such as retinal degeneration, or a systemic illness like high blood pressure or hyperthyroidism. I would recommend taking Oreo to the vet for an ophthalmic exam when you are able to. He/she may also recommend other tests such as a blood pressure check, lab work, etc. if needed to check for any problems that need to be treated.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Cat has left eye has dilated eye ball and of a greenish color
You need to take your cat to the vet asap as an enlarged eyeball is an emergency as it could be indicative of my a life threatening condition glaucoma. Otherwise it could be an infection called uveitis.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Dilated pupil in one of cats eyes
A dilated pupil can be a sign of a few things....all of which require veterinary attention immediately . It could be a sign of trauma to the eye or head, blood pressure changes, ocular pressure changes, or a nerve problem stemming from the brain. Yiu should have her seen as soon as possible. I hope Milo is okay!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
my 1 year old male tuxedo cat was attacked by a coyote I was able to chase after the coyote about 50 yards until he finally dropped him and he was bleeding around the neck I took him to the vet and he said they had didn't have any broken bones and he
Poor guy! It could be a sign of pain or trauma from the event including head or neck trauma, or a side effect of pain medication. If he was bleeding did they find the source of it? Was he given any medications at the clinic (pain medication?) or to take home? Was he appropriate mentally there and then has declined? The problem with kittys getting attacked is that the attacker often shakes them while biting. This can create a lot of shear trauma under the skin that is initially not seen. If no meds have been given i would worry about pain or head trauma. I would recommend calling the clinic that saw him to report this change. The safest thing for these patients is for them to be hospitalized for monitoring because not all problems show up right away. If head trauma is suspected medications may need to be given for this. I hope this helps and thank you for using Boop by Petco!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
she is outdoor, 19 yrs. Deaf, but does fine. Now her pupils are "almost always" dilated, so she acts blind and fearful. Is she near her last days?
I would recommend taking her to a vet for some basic blood work. It is very common for older cats to get hyperthyroidism. This is where the thyroid over produces and will cause their blood pressure to go up. High blood pressure can lead to retinal detachment which will cause dilated pupils and issues with vision. I think it is also possible she is losing vision as she is getting older. However the blood work with her age would be helpful
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My cat is 61 days pegnant. Her eyes are very dilated. The pupils are very large and round. Could this be to do with early labor
I am very concerned that there may be some other underlying problem. Have you tried to shine a light into her eyes? If so, did the pupils get smaller? If not there is a chance that your cat may have seriously high blood pressure that can cause blindness, however often is reversible if treated quickly. This is serious enough to warrant a veterinary visit right away. This may not have anything to do with her pregnancy, however without a hands-on exam there is no way to tell what is causing this problem. Please take her to a vet ASAP. If you ring your regular veterinary practice they should have information on an out of hours service on the answering machine.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My 16-year old cat's eyes seemed to change all of a sudden. Her pupils are dilated very large and don't change in light. She seems a little confused, too, and like she can't see very well.
I would recommend that Monet see a veterinarian. Sudden onset of blindness and dilated pupils can be secondary to high blood pressure in older cats. They can suffer from hyperthyroidism or a heart disease called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Both of these geriatric cat problems can cause these changes with her eyes. Thank you for using Boop by Petco.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hi, my cat is 13 yr old. This morning when she woke up her eyes were like this. Her left eye doesn't respond on any light changes (iris stays wide) . Can you please tell me how to help her and what is it. She eats normally and acts like always. Thank
There is anisocoria (the two pupils are unequal in size) and possibly ptosis of the upper eyelid (the eyelid cannot open normally) on the left side (where the pupil is bigger). There are many causes that can provoke this presentation: -Corneal injury such as an ulcer. -Disease or injury to the brain or to the nerves running to the affected eye, such as Horner’s syndrome. -Glaucoma, a disease in which there is increased pressure within the eye (the pupil in the affected eye will be dilated). -Uveitis, or inflammation of the interior of the eye (the pupil in the affected eye will usually be constricted). -Retinal disease. -Scar tissue formation between the iris and the lens (called posterior synechia), a condition that may develop following uveitis. -Iris atrophy (a decrease in the amount of tissue within the iris) usually a degenerative change associated with aging. -Congenital defect of the iris, in which the iris tissue does not develop properly. -Cancer within the affected eye. -Spa
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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