Caring for Those
Captivating Kitten Eyes

Kitten eyes are magical and mysterious. They are an astonishing array of colors: from hazel, green, blue, and brown.

Kitten eyes are functional as well as beautiful. Kittens have excellent vision in low light environments.

Their keen vision is from derived from their wild, hunter ancestors. Kittens use their eyes not only to see, but to communicate with humans and other animals.

Eye Development

At birth, almost all kittens are born blind and with blue eyes. Kittens open their eyes around 2 weeks of age. And each kitten has its own genetically predetermined eye color. However, a kitten’s permanent eye color will not be apparent until around three months of age.

The Anatomy of Kitten Eyes

Unlike humans, kittens have three eyelids: upper eyelid, lower eyelid, and nictitating membrane. The usually invisible nictitating membrane rests against the cornea and serves to protect and lubricate the eye.

Feline eyes have more rods than human eyes. Rods provide the ability to see in dim settings. Kittens cannot see in total darkness. But, they do have an advantage over humans in seeing in low light.

Caring for Kitten Eyes

A kitten’s eye is relatively self-cleaning. On a rare occasion, you may be required wipe dried tears or secretions from your kitten’s eyes. Use a moist clothing or tissue to remove the excess secretions. Be careful not the rub your kitten’s eyes. Kitten eyes are easily irritated.

During routine grooming, it is a good idea to get in the habit of examining your kitten’s eyes. It doesn’t have to be formal or complex, simply notice if there are any abnormalities. Is your kitten squinting its eyes a bit too much? Does your kitty have one or more droopy eyelids? Kittens with healthy eyes have clear bright eyes with minimal tearing. Is your kitten
excessively rubbing its eyes?

If you notice any changes with your kitten’s eyes, see your vet right away. Ignoring kitten eye problems now could lead to more serious troubles down the road.

Kitten Eye Problems

Kittens are playful and can get dirt or debris in their eyes while rolling around. Also, certain breeds of felines are born with a greater susceptibility to genetic eye disorders. For example, Persian kittens have a tendency to develop problems with excessive tearing. Let’s look at some common eye health issues that kittens face.

• Conjunctivitis

  Just like human children, kittens are prone to getting conjunctivitis (also known as “pink eye”). Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the inner membrane of the eye. Symptoms include red, irritated eyes. You may notice that your kitten rubs or scratches its eyes. There may also be discharge present. It’s treated by removing the irritant. If an infection is present, your kitten will be given an antibiotic.

• Foreign Objects in the Eye

  Kittens are active creatures. It is common for them to get particles in their eyes during play. For mild dust or dirt in the eye, it may be necessary to wash your kitten’s eye out with sterile saline. An eye wash should solve the problem. For more extreme issues involving chemicals or larger objects in the eye, you must take your kitten to the vet immediately for treatment.

• Excessive Tearing

  Kitten eyes can also be affected by excessive tearing. As stated earlier certain feline breeds are more at risk to develop to excessive tearing. There may also be dust, dirt or swelling blocking the tear ducts. Blocked tear ducts cannot reabsorb tears produced by the eye.

• Blindness All kittens are born blind. However, some never gain the ability to see. Blindness can be a genetic condition. Blindness can also be from disease. Diabetes, high blood pressure, infections, and accidents can all be factors in blindness.

• Retinitis

  Retinitis is an inflammation of the retina. The retina transmits visual signals from the eye to the brain. Without proper functioning of the retina, kittens may be blind or visually impaired.

• Crossed Eyes

  Crossed eyes can occur in for a number of reasons. Genetic predisposition, head trauma, and tumors are the most common causes of crossed eyes. Siamese kittens have a genetic predisposition to developing crossed eyes. If your kitten suddenly develops crossed eyes and has recently suffered physical trauma, see your vet immediately.

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