Author: Deb M. Eldredge, DVM

The phone calls often go like this: “We need to bring our kitten in right away. We are afraid she might be rabid!” Rabies is certainly not something to rule out lightly as it is a very serious disease. However, when further questioning shows that the cat involved is a 6-month-old female kitten who has not been spayed, I can be quite sure she is simply “in heat.” But I understand the confusion. The behavior changes of a cat in heat are enough to concern any family.

As the rest of your cat ages, so do her eyes and she starts to require more cat eye care. With many cats now living into their upper teens and early twenties, old age eye problems may become evident in many felines. Yet, other cats never have an eye problem. My beloved cat Samantha, who lived to at least 22 (she was a young adult when I got her so I am not 100 percent sure of her age) never had any eye problems. Signs of an eye problem in your senior cat may vary. Cats have a very mobile third eyelid. This is a whitish tissue that sweeps across the eye from the inner corner — much like a windshield wiper. The appearance of the third eyelid may indicate irritation to the cornea or simply a sick cat. Other reasons for concern are sudden tearing, squinting, increased blinking or even holding an eye shut. Eye problems can go from minor to severe quickly, so don’t hesitate to contact your veterinarian if you suspect an eye problem in your cat.