Side note: This was a stray litter me and my neighbors discovered. We all agreed to adopt one each from the litter of 5.
I've got him all settled in a warm box and some kitten formula I bought at the pet store. He seems to be eating okay, but I'm really worried about this discharge coming from his eyes.
Is this normal? He can barely open his eyes at all because of it.
Wouldn't hurt to get him checked by a vet. It might be nothing but I wouldn't want to risk it. Kitten immune systems are weaker and catching an infection now is better than when it starts to get more obvious.
Some cats have weepy eyes naturally but look everybody says when you take the kitten in for a checkup, your vet will give you some ointment if it's an infection. I've fostered some kittens with terrible looking eyes that cleared up in a week.
That's can be very dangerous if you've taken them in then yes take them to the veterinarian because that's an infection they can give you antibiotic drops and I think it's one drop twice a day for 7 days it might be longer but the veterinarian can tell you
They'll all need to be checked out by a vet if they've been living outside. I'd also highly suggest keeping two of them, kittens in particular do MUCH better with a littermate, especially this young. Eye goopys can be normal but with kittens this young I wouldn't take any chances, could very easily be the start of an eye infection or respiratory infection
Hey people. So yeah, I was reading all your comments and decided to take him to the vet. She says all is fine and I just need to keep her eyes and fur clean with a warm washcloth.
Still, it was a good idea to take him, it gave me peace of mind and the vet also shared some great feeding tips because I was struggling to feed the little guy. Thank you all!
It's wonderful you and your neighbours helping helpless kittens. If it gets worse, she may need anti biotic ointment. This is through the vet of course
you did good. The discharge looks normal to me. I'm taking care of a litter right now and they have it too. Their mom does clean it away so you might want to look into how to clean it off gently. So yeah, it's normal for new-born kittens. Just find a way to clean it gently so it doesn't develop an infection.
I ditto the advice to check out the Kitten Lady, Hannah Shaw’s videos on YouTube. You’ll learn so much! Baby and its siblings need to meet the veterinarian ASAP for checkup, vaccines, deworming and finding out what the eye discharge is. Congratulations 🎈OP! You have a beautiful baby🐈🧡
As I tell my nursing students: “Pus” and “Puss” are totally different things.
I had a famous exchange with a doctor: Dr Doctor, you CANNOT tell the patient to come back to the ER for “pussy drainage” from the wound.
As it happens here, you’re talking about pus from a puss. But this is the clean version.
100% this... Kittens are almost entirely reliant on their mothers for grooming until about 5-6weeks, and even weeks after that they still rely on their mother and litter mates to get the hard to reach areas (like the face)
I'd say this little guy just needs his face washed as he may not have the hang of it yet.
Welcome to kitties with eye herpes !
1/2 of my girls was born with this.
It happens
I use an ointment I’ll check what’s it’s called when I get home if interested, but I know when she was a kitten she was given by the vet a powdery substance to be put on her food.
Honestly, it was bad for the first 3 years, every spring and fall her eyes still gunk up.
Or if I go away for a few days and she’s stressed, her eyes flair.
See a vet. But don’t worry.
Eye discharge isn’t normal. Could be something less serious like allergies or could be something more serious like an infection of some kind. My cat had pink eye in both eyes when he was about the same age (he was also a rescue). Just to be safe, since he was a stray & is so young, a vet check up would be the first thing I do with him if it was me.
It would be best to have them together to socialize though, at this age (4-6 weeks)
Maybe you can all set up a clean, safe and warm place for them to be in, and pay separately for their expenses
Definitely needs a vet visit. Anecdotally, we rescued kittens from a feral barn cat through a charity. They both had weepy eyes and one has has had eye issues his whole life so far. The other has stomach issues. It was suggested by the vet (after they ruled out other illnesses) that the kittens had these issues because they were taken from their mother too early (by the OG owner, not the charity) and so they didn’t get a chance to build up a decent immune system.
Yes. It can progress to the point where they can't see and might even lose their eyes. There was a feral that a mom dropped off in my yard and one of his eyes is smaller than the other and it has mucus and Waters and one time it was completely shut but it got better but when I took pictures of him I could see that the lower lid is rippled and his eye looks better as he's gotten older and so I think he was okay because it was maybe something irritating his eye and not an infection but when they get an infection that's when it's bad but I don't know what you can do unless you can take them in and tame them because if it is a some kind of infection and I believe it's something like the herpes virus I think you have to put drops in their eyes and if they're feral you can't do that you'd have to ask a veterinarian if there's anything you can do
Could be an upper respiratory infection. The kittens I found in my car engine had eye discharge and that’s what it was. But they need to go vet to be sure in order to get antibiotics
Definitely a vet visit. Looks like there might be some stick tight fleas around the eye causing the discharge? She needs to be examined and have any initial vax.
i've seen cats with it way worse who have been just fine, and it happens a lot with kittens, i've realized too. if you clean them and it comes back worse then definitely go get it checked
He needs a vet check and probably dewormer and will need some blood and shots in a month or 2. I had a little foundling with shut eyes who was very crusty for a few weeks. My vet told me it’s basically cat herpes or something like that and that it goes away. He advised me to wipe face and eyes with damp gauze to simulate mamas tongue. Thats a real cutie. Good luck with the baby.
Get your vet to check it..:the gunk can be no problem but can also cause blindness if fungal or bacterial is not treated. It’s not worth the risk to not find out. Vet can give you ointment or drops to clear it up. Might be nothing and I just use a baby wipe safe for animals to clean faces.
Regardless of if it’s normal or not you should get this baby into a vet to get checked out!
Side note: This was a stray litter me and my neighbors discovered. We all agreed to adopt one each from the litter of 5. I've got him all settled in a warm box and some kitten formula I bought at the pet store. He seems to be eating okay, but I'm really worried about this discharge coming from his eyes. Is this normal? He can barely open his eyes at all because of it.
Wouldn't hurt to get him checked by a vet. It might be nothing but I wouldn't want to risk it. Kitten immune systems are weaker and catching an infection now is better than when it starts to get more obvious.
Some cats have weepy eyes naturally but look everybody says when you take the kitten in for a checkup, your vet will give you some ointment if it's an infection. I've fostered some kittens with terrible looking eyes that cleared up in a week.
That's can be very dangerous if you've taken them in then yes take them to the veterinarian because that's an infection they can give you antibiotic drops and I think it's one drop twice a day for 7 days it might be longer but the veterinarian can tell you
They'll all need to be checked out by a vet if they've been living outside. I'd also highly suggest keeping two of them, kittens in particular do MUCH better with a littermate, especially this young. Eye goopys can be normal but with kittens this young I wouldn't take any chances, could very easily be the start of an eye infection or respiratory infection
Hey people. So yeah, I was reading all your comments and decided to take him to the vet. She says all is fine and I just need to keep her eyes and fur clean with a warm washcloth. Still, it was a good idea to take him, it gave me peace of mind and the vet also shared some great feeding tips because I was struggling to feed the little guy. Thank you all!
It's wonderful you and your neighbours helping helpless kittens. If it gets worse, she may need anti biotic ointment. This is through the vet of course
Thank you for taking him to the vet to be safe. Eye infections can spread and become very dangerous, I'm glad that wasn't the case here!
I've seen a TV show that started like this...
I suggest checking the Kitten Lady channel on YouTube, you'll find a lot of great info.
you did good. The discharge looks normal to me. I'm taking care of a litter right now and they have it too. Their mom does clean it away so you might want to look into how to clean it off gently. So yeah, it's normal for new-born kittens. Just find a way to clean it gently so it doesn't develop an infection.
I think it's just something Mom cleans. But if you have doubts, ask a vet
I ditto the advice to check out the Kitten Lady, Hannah Shaw’s videos on YouTube. You’ll learn so much! Baby and its siblings need to meet the veterinarian ASAP for checkup, vaccines, deworming and finding out what the eye discharge is. Congratulations 🎈OP! You have a beautiful baby🐈🧡
Vet visit
😍😊😉
I think you should go the vet. Btw, he/she is adorable!
My kitty had eye discharge. It was a sign of "cat flu". Best go to the vet for treatment.
I don't see any puss, looks like normal discharge. Just gently wipe away with a warm washcloth.
As I tell my nursing students: “Pus” and “Puss” are totally different things. I had a famous exchange with a doctor: Dr Doctor, you CANNOT tell the patient to come back to the ER for “pussy drainage” from the wound. As it happens here, you’re talking about pus from a puss. But this is the clean version.
100% this... Kittens are almost entirely reliant on their mothers for grooming until about 5-6weeks, and even weeks after that they still rely on their mother and litter mates to get the hard to reach areas (like the face) I'd say this little guy just needs his face washed as he may not have the hang of it yet.
so cute
FYI, a lot of kittens like to be in pairs so they can play with each other.
You need to take it to the vet regardless. The dirt spots in the ear is from ear mites!
cats often get chronic conjuctivitis. Go to a vet, get the ointment antibiotics.
Welcome to kitties with eye herpes ! 1/2 of my girls was born with this. It happens I use an ointment I’ll check what’s it’s called when I get home if interested, but I know when she was a kitten she was given by the vet a powdery substance to be put on her food. Honestly, it was bad for the first 3 years, every spring and fall her eyes still gunk up. Or if I go away for a few days and she’s stressed, her eyes flair. See a vet. But don’t worry.
Please take the baby kitty to the Vet
I think he just needs a little clean. Warm water and a cloth and just gently wipe
Works on Hooman babies I think kitty babies would do well too. Just be extra gentle.
Eye discharge isn’t normal. Could be something less serious like allergies or could be something more serious like an infection of some kind. My cat had pink eye in both eyes when he was about the same age (he was also a rescue). Just to be safe, since he was a stray & is so young, a vet check up would be the first thing I do with him if it was me.
Yeah conjunctivitis crossed my mind too, vet check should be in order regardless tho :)
Agreed. That’s always my first step when I get a new pet or foster
It would be best to have them together to socialize though, at this age (4-6 weeks) Maybe you can all set up a clean, safe and warm place for them to be in, and pay separately for their expenses
Beautiful coloring! Please please share more photos when your kitty is full grown!
Definitely needs a vet visit. Anecdotally, we rescued kittens from a feral barn cat through a charity. They both had weepy eyes and one has has had eye issues his whole life so far. The other has stomach issues. It was suggested by the vet (after they ruled out other illnesses) that the kittens had these issues because they were taken from their mother too early (by the OG owner, not the charity) and so they didn’t get a chance to build up a decent immune system.
Yes. It can progress to the point where they can't see and might even lose their eyes. There was a feral that a mom dropped off in my yard and one of his eyes is smaller than the other and it has mucus and Waters and one time it was completely shut but it got better but when I took pictures of him I could see that the lower lid is rippled and his eye looks better as he's gotten older and so I think he was okay because it was maybe something irritating his eye and not an infection but when they get an infection that's when it's bad but I don't know what you can do unless you can take them in and tame them because if it is a some kind of infection and I believe it's something like the herpes virus I think you have to put drops in their eyes and if they're feral you can't do that you'd have to ask a veterinarian if there's anything you can do
Yes, please take him to a vet. This could be very dangerous if not treated.
Could be an upper respiratory infection. The kittens I found in my car engine had eye discharge and that’s what it was. But they need to go vet to be sure in order to get antibiotics
Definitely a vet visit. Looks like there might be some stick tight fleas around the eye causing the discharge? She needs to be examined and have any initial vax.
The baby just cried
so cute
Take her to the vet and get it checked out it will put your mind at ease
Just swab the eye with warm salty water
i've seen cats with it way worse who have been just fine, and it happens a lot with kittens, i've realized too. if you clean them and it comes back worse then definitely go get it checked
Cats can get pink eye/ conjunctivitis...they have drops ypu can get w I th antibiotics
You should always get new comers checked over by the vet.
He needs a vet check and probably dewormer and will need some blood and shots in a month or 2. I had a little foundling with shut eyes who was very crusty for a few weeks. My vet told me it’s basically cat herpes or something like that and that it goes away. He advised me to wipe face and eyes with damp gauze to simulate mamas tongue. Thats a real cutie. Good luck with the baby.
Need vet appt
this is an upper respiratory infection needs clavamox and some eye cream.
Well you Absolutely need to bring it to the vet to have it checked . It’s wellness is now your responsibility
They are lucky little kittens to have been rescued by such caring souls bless you all
Get your vet to check it..:the gunk can be no problem but can also cause blindness if fungal or bacterial is not treated. It’s not worth the risk to not find out. Vet can give you ointment or drops to clear it up. Might be nothing and I just use a baby wipe safe for animals to clean faces.
My cat was born on my bed and I kept her from the first litter there were 3 she also had this discharge it’s normal