What To Do When Cat Scratched Your Eye?

The 5 Things to Do If a Cat Scratches Your Eye

These treatments can assist with injured eyes, but regardless of how bad the scratch is, we strongly advise visiting an eye specialist as soon as you can to be sure there is no infection or long-term damage.

1. Clean your eyes

Cleaning your cat’s scratched eye properly is the first thing you should do. Rinse it with either warm, sterile water or a moderate saline solution.

Saline is preferred because it helps prevent the growth of microorganisms. Make sure your eye is wide open and wash it out for one to two minutes with the water solution.

2. Blinking

Once you’ve cleaned your eye out, it could hurt at first, but attempt to continue blinking. This will assist in clearing out any remaining debris and bacteria from your eye as well as help to prevent infection. Blinking will really relieve discomfort after the dirt and debris have been cleared away and may even help with pain reduction.

To help eliminate dirt, you can also try pulling your upper eyelid over your lower eyelid. Any dirt lodged behind your top eyelid can be removed with the aid of your lower eyelashes, which can function as a brush.

3. Avoid rubbing your eye!

Try to resist the need to rub your eye, no matter how hard it may be, since this could quickly make things worse. Cat scratches can become very itchy, which can be very upsetting if the wound is in your eye. Regrettably, you’ll have to put up with the itching and try not to rub your eye too much.

Additionally, avoid using an eye patch. As bacteria prefer warm, gloomy environments, an infection from a patch may spread more quickly.

4. Avoid eyedrops

Although you might be tempted, it is not a good idea to use eyedrops to reduce redness in order to relieve pain. If you attempt to use these eye drops, they are not intended for use on open wounds and will probably be quite painful.

Waiting until you can see a doctor is much preferable because they can give you calming eye drops designed for wounds.

If you wear contacts, you should also avoid putting them in because they can worsen the situation. The ideal option is to wear glasses; if not, ask a friend or family member to drive for you. Wearing sunglasses on the journey is an excellent idea because they will reduce light sensitivity.

5. Go see a doctor

No matter how serious your scratch is, we strongly advise getting medical care by visiting a doctor. Minor surface abrasions won’t require much care and will typically heal in a few days.

But, a significant scratch may be harmful, and you don’t want to take any chances with your vision. Without adequate care, a scratch can rapidly become infected and lead to a partial loss of vision.

Your doctor will be able to determine the severity of the scratch and provide the appropriate treatment, which may include oral antibiotics, antibiotic eye drops, or other prescription steroid eyedrops.

Final Thoughts

If your cat has scratched the inside of your eye, we strongly advise consulting a veterinarian, regardless of how little the scratch may appear to be.

When it comes to your vision, it’s much better to be safe than sorry because infection can spread so quickly. Use instructions in “What To Do When Cat Scratched Your Eye?” by BestForPets (bestforpets.org) to make things simpler and help prevent infection before running to the doctor.