Pink, watery cat eye and hiding: Is it time for a vet visit?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Female | spayed | 4 years and 7 months old | 9 lbs
My cat has had a winky eye since I woke up, she did not have it when I went to bed though. It’s slightly pink, been leaking clear fluids and when she rubs it she’s rubbing it aggressively. I’ve wiped it a couple times with a cotton pad with warm water and checked as best as I can to see if there’s anything in the eye that could be irritating it but I can’t find anything. shes also been spending most of her time hiding under my bed. Should I be going to a vet or waiting for it to get better?
3 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on April 13th, 2020
I would recommend taking her to the vet today. It could be an infection, conjunctivitis, or a corneal ulcer or abrasion. The vet will do a thorough exam and use a special stain to see if there is an ulcer. Then they will prescribe appropriate medications. Try to keep her from rubbing the eye any more, as this could cause trauma to the eyeball.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on May 9th, 2018
Hello. Poor Kitty has a pretty significant upper respiratory infection. It could be caused by a bacterial or viral infection. The eyes look pretty irritated so while cleaning the eyes gently with a little warm water is fine, I would recommend having your veterinarian take a look & see if any eye or oral medications are necessary. You can start her on an L-lysine supplement ( an amino acid that may help to suppress the virus ) just in case this may be related to a herpes type virus very common in cats. There are many different kinds available at PetCo. But you should have Kitty seen as soon as possible as she does look quite uncomfortable. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on December 10th, 2017
Thank you for providing pictures of Milu and her eye, she is very cute! Yes, it could be that she is suffering from an eye infection, which would cause discharge from the eye and redness. It could also be allergies, but without seeing her in person, I can't say for certain. I can say, however, that any eye problem is considered an emergency because the eye is such a delicate and important structure. Leaving it untreated can lead to vision loss, so I would get her into a vet as soon as possible. The vet can examined and diagnosed her eye problem so it can be treated. Good luck, I hope this helps!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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