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Is my 9-month-old adopted kitten's eye discharge an infection?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Male | neutered | 8 lbs

Hi! I think my kitten has an eye infection- I just adopted him this weekend - he is approximately 9 months old.

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2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

Published on March 18th, 2019

Poor Pete! Squinting and discharge from the eye are common signs of an eye infection. He will need prescription eye drops from your veterinarian to treat this problem, so I would recommend taking him in for an exam as soon as you are able to. In the meantime, you can try gently flushing his eye with plain saline eye wash, and wipe away the drainage with a warm washcloth or cotton ball as often as needed. This will not treat the underlying infection, but may help to make him a bit more comfortable until you are able to see the vet.

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    Answered By Liz DeWandeler, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on June 7th, 2017

    This seems to be very common in adopted stray cats. It is possible that Toothless has a little upper respiratory infection that is hanging around; you may also observe him sneezing. However, Toothless could also have a scratch on his eye or an irritant that is bothering him. You can try gently rinsing his eye with a saline rinse (like you use if you have contact lenses), and watching it for a day or two. If he is squinting, producing lots of discharge, and/or his third eyelid continues to be elevated, I recommend having him seen by your veterinarian for further evaluation. They may need to stain his eye to see if there is a scratch.

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