Cat eye held closed – when should I see a vet?

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: PDSA

Contact a vet today

This can have a serious cause – contact your vet today if any of the warning signs below apply, or if you are unsure. Possible causes include an eye injury, something stuck in the eye, an eye ulcer, an eye infection (conjunctivitis), irritation, an allergic reaction, glaucoma, uveitis, or eyelash or eyelid disorders.

When to contact a vet What to do now

Contact a vet if you see any of this

Being off their food
Lethargy
Hiding away

What you can do now

Contact your vet.
Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see.
Take a photo or short video to show the vet.
Keep fresh water available.
Let your cat rest somewhere calm.

Don't

Do not give any human medicine.
Do not wait if it gets worse.

What it can mean

There are many conditions that can cause painful eyes in cats, and some are more serious than others.^[1] Possible causes include injury or trauma, something stuck in the eye, an eye ulcer, eye infection (conjunctivitis), irritation, an allergic reaction, glaucoma, uveitis, eyelash disorders, and eyelid disorders.^[1]

Other signs that can come with it

Blinking excessively
Holding an eye shut

Possible causes

Eye injuries or trauma
Something stuck in the eye
An eye ulcer
An eye infection (conjunctivitis)
Something irritating
An allergic reaction
Glaucoma
Uveitis
Eyelash disorders
Eyelid disorders

What the experts say

“Overview. Has your cat been blinking excessively, holding an eye shut, or showing other signs of ocular pain? There are many conditions that can cause painful eye(s), some more serious than others. Contact your vet if you think your cat has an eye problem.”
— PDSA [1]

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

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Common questions

What can cause a painful eye in a cat?

Possible causes include injury or trauma, something stuck in the eye, an eye ulcer, eye infection (conjunctivitis), irritation, an allergic reaction, glaucoma, uveitis, eyelash disorders, and eyelid disorders.^[1]

When is an urgent appointment necessary?

An urgent appointment is necessary if your cat has signs of extreme pain such as being off their food, lethargic, or hiding away.^[1]

Should I contact my vet about an eye problem?

Contact your vet if you think your cat has an eye problem.^[1]

Sources

PDSA

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages