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Surely we can all agree that cats have a mysterious and very charming look, which they can take advantage of several times for an afternoon cuddling on the couch.
But how do cats see the world around them?
It is a myth that cats see just black and white. It is true, however, that they see a different spectrum of colors than humans see. Let’s say the colors we see as very intense are seen by cats in pastel. They perceive shades of gray, blue and yellow well, but find it harder to distinguish red and green. The reason for the different color perception lies in the slightly smaller number of certain photoreceptors. Cats do not have night vision, but they can see much better than humans in the dark.
What are the most common eye diseases?
PINK EYE-CONJUNCTIVITY
The appearance of a pink eye occurs due to inflammation of the conjunctiva (a thin, moist membrane that covers the surface of the eye and the inside of the eyelid). You will recognize the disease by the following symptoms:
- sticky discharge from the eyes,
- pink, reddish conjunctions and
- swollen eye.
The causes are different: bacterial or viral inflammation, allergens (grass, dust, pollen…). In the case of bacterial inflammation, your veterinarian will most likely prescribe antibiotics to your cat. If the cause is viruses, namely in cats conjunctivitis can occur as a result of feline herpesvirus (FHV-1), the disease will be treated with antiviral drugs.
Conjunctivitis can be very painful for a cat and if you do not seek proper veterinary help at the first signs, the condition can quickly worsen.
INFLAMMATION-UVEITIS
Uveitis is a disease in which there is inflammation of the uvea, the middle layer of the eye, where the blood vessels are also located. Symptoms that occur are:
- increased tearing,
- discharge from the eye,
- redness,
- change in pupil size.
This condition can be very painful for a cat and can affect her vision if left untreated.
Uveitis can occur due to a bacterial infection, eye damage, autoimmune diseases, feline leukemia, parasites (toxoplasmosis)… The veterinarian will decide on the treatment depending on the cause of the disease. In severe cases, the eye can also be removed.
GLAUCOMA
Glaucoma is a condition in which the pressure in the eye increases due to excessive production of eye fluid or insufficient drainage of the eye fluid. Such a condition is very serious as it can lead to blindness. Usually the eye tears and becomes red, the pupils dilate, the eye may also swell. Glaucoma is treated with drugs that promote fluid drainage and reduce its production.
ENTROPY
It is an incorrect curling of the eyelid inwards, causing the lashes to cut into the cornea. Such cats constantly have tears in their eyes, their eyes are closed, and changes in the skin around their eyes can occur.
CATARACT
A phenomenon in which a cat loses the transparency of its lens. In some breeds, such as Himalayan cats and Persian cats, this occurs more frequently. Old cats and cats with diabetes are also subject to eye cataracts. Deterioration of vision or even blindness may occur, so take your cat for a veterinary check-up if symptoms occur.
Many eye diseases can be avoided with proper care and regular eye examinations. Pay attention to discharge, swelling, redness… Regular eye cleansing outweighs a large part in preventing various eye diseases. Arava eye cleansing wipes will be of great help.