Caring for your cat’s eyes is a very important part of the pet care process. As a responsible pet owner, it cannot be stressed enough that proper care of your cat’s eyes is essential for good health. Eye care is often ignored by many cat owners, as it does not immediately present itself as being an integral part of pet care. However, most cats have very sensitive eyes, and will require regular eye care in order to enjoy a better quality of life.
Cat’s eyes are physically different than human eyes. This is because a cat’s eye has a third eyelid, also referred to as a nictitating eyelid. The job of this third eyelid is to protect cat’s eyes from dryness, damage or environmental hazards. If your cat’s third eyelid seems to be having trouble functioning, this is a key sign that your cat’s eye health is in potential danger.
Despite the unique attributes of feline eyes, many cats can experience similar eye problems as humans. Conditions such as cataracts, pink eye, and Chlamydia are just some of the fairly common conditions that may affect a cat’s eye. To prevent these conditions, the best thing that you can do is to regularly check the condition of your cat’s eyes. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, it is advised that you schedule a visit to the veterinarian as soon as possible. This can prevent a problem from progressing to a point in which it is no longer treatable.
One way to identify if your cat is experiencing vision problems is to pay attention for any changes in temperament. If your cat is constantly angry or frightened, they may be experiencing eye problems which are distorting their vision. The size of your cat’s pupils is also a good indicating factor to judge if your cat’s eyes are functioning normally.
If your cat seems to not immediately notice a treat placed directly below their nose, this is not necessarily indicative of a potential vision problem. Cats are not able to see directly beneath their noses, though will be able to identify a treat placed in that area once their olfactory senses are activated. A commonly believed myth about a cat’s vision is that cats are colorblind. In reality, cats do not see the world in black and white, as was once thought. Cats see in color, though may not be able to identify color hues as easily as humans. A cat’s vision is relatively classified as being about 20/100, which technically means that cats do not have perfect vision. Although cats are able to easily recognize and identify objects at a distance, they may have a slightly higher level of difficulty when attempting to identify objects that are right under their nose. However, it is a well-known fact that a cat’s vision is superior to a human’s vision in low light conditions. Caring for your cat’s eye health is a great way to ensure that your cat will enjoy a longer, happier life.