il).
Experienced and professional animal trainer provide their insights in answering this question :
A. This sounds like a condition called “horner’s syndrome” . Approximately 25-42% of the cases of Horner’s Syndrome in cats are idiopathic.
Other causes includes:
Ear infection
Car accidents with trauma to the head, neck, or chest
Bite wounds
Foreign body
Tumor of the spine
As a result of a treatment (e.g.; ear cleaning) or medication
How to Identify Common Pet Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced pet care professionals :
The most common cause of different-sized pupils in cats is anterior uveitis, a type of inflammation within the eye. The affected eye is the one with the smaller pupil. Glaucoma is another common cause for differing pupil size in cats. Glaucoma is a condition in which increased pressure exists inside the eye.
Narrowed pupils may be a sign that your pet is happy and content, particularly when accompanied by purring. Although purring often happens when cats are happy, some cats also purr when scared or in pain. Aggression or Anger. Pupils also tend to get smaller and narrower when your pet is feeling aggressive.
What causes anisocoria? Anisocoria is a sign of a disease of condition, therefore there can be several different causes, including: Corneal injury such as an ulcer. Disease or injury to the brain or to the nerves running to the affected eye, such as Horner`s syndrome.
Causes of Unequal Pupil Size in Cats
Unequal pupils can be caused by both neurological (brain or nerves) and ocular (eye) issues. Because the eyes are so closely connected to the brain, often damage and injury of this area affect both parts of the body.
Cats` pupils fluctuate in size and shape based on light and emotion. Usually, they`re vertical and shaped like slits, which means they`re content and relaxed. However, if a cat is excited and about to pounce, their pupils will become round and large.
Unequal pupils (anisocoria) may be physiological, pathological or pharmacological. Importantly, anisocoria can indicate underlying disease of the eye, orbit, brain, neck or chest. Examination of the pupils is therefore a crucial part of any eye examination.
While your cat is staring at you, you may notice that its eyes are only half-open or that its pupils are small. These are both signs that your kitty is content and calm. You may even catch a few slow blinks between your cat`s staring sessions, which is your cat letting you know they love and trust you completely!
Small pupils can be due to bright light, an emotional response, or looking at something far away. There are six health risks that can cause pinpoint pupils, or miosis. These include substance abuse, prescription drugs, environmental toxins, diseases, Horner syndrome, and trauma to the eye or brain.
Dilated (large) pupils are another source of understanding the meaning of cats` mysterious eyes, and often indicate an excited cat. It can also be a display of surprise or fear, depending on the situation. It is not unusual for a cat`s pupils to fully dilate when they are really excited.
Cat eye syndrome (CES), also known as Schmid-Fraccaro syndrome, is a very rare genetic disorder that`s usually evident at birth. It gets its name from the distinctive eye pattern present in about half of affected individuals.
A cloudy eye can be a sign of several eye diseases in cats. These include, but are not limited to: corneal ulceration, keratitis, cataracts, and glaucoma. A number of diseases of the cornea and lens may be characterized by cloudy eyes.
Immediate medical care, however, should be obtained for pupils that remain dilated, or pupils that are unequal in size, as this can be a sign of a serious condition affecting the brain, including stroke, internal bleeding, or tumor.
Visit your provider or go to the emergency room if you notice one of your pupils is suddenly larger than the other. Some people develop anisocoria with no long-term complications, but it can also be a sign of a much more dangerous issue in your body.
Anisocoria is different pupil sizes in each eye. One pupil may be bigger than normal, or one pupil may be smaller than normal, resulting in unequal pupils. In most cases, anisocoria is mild, constant and no cause for concern.
In the animal world, direct eye contact or a hard or prolonged stare is usually perceived as a threat or challenge to the recipient of that stare. If two cats were to exhibit neutral or even friendly behavior toward each other, they would typically avoid making direct eye contact.
If your cat sleeps on your bed, he may choose a position that lets him see out your bedroom door more easily. If he`s curled up in a ball under your bed or in a quiet corner, then he may be hiding. Cats who sleep under the covers might love being close to you, or they might be hiding to feel safer.
Miosis is a condition where your pupil shrinks or constricts in size. If your pupils remain small even in dim light, it could indicate that something in your eye isn`t operating properly. This condition is known as abnormal miosis, and it can affect one or both eyes.
The pupils in your eyes get bigger or smaller depending on how much light enters or what they`re focusing on. When your pupils are much smaller than normal and don`t respond as they normally do to light or focus changes, you have miosis. This condition can have many causes.
Excitement. Excitement may also cause pupil dilation in some cats. If your cat`s eyes become dilated at dinnertime or when she knows she`s about to get her favorite treat, this is nothing to worry about and is part of her normal response to excitement.
Healthy feline eyes are clear and bright. Your cat`s pupils should also be equal in size and shape, and the area around his or her eyeballs should be pure white. Cats with pupils that are not the same size are suffering from anisocoria, which is a symptom and not a disease.
Clearly, cats are good at visual recognition — except when it comes to human faces. Instead of facial recognition, cats may use other cues, like our scent, the way we feel, or the sound of our voices to identify us. Researchers from Tokyo University found that cats do recognize their owners` voices.
Cats can-theoretically- see color, but they see humans along with the rest of the universe in a dissimilar light. The feline eyes have few cones which respond to the red light spectrum, and their world is thus yellow, blue, and gray. To a cat, green and red are the same.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Q. I have a 3 month old kitten and I have noticed that her pupils are the same size and that her left eye is drooping slightly (same eye as pupil).
ANSWER : A. This sounds like a condition called “horner’s syndrome” . Approximately 25-42% of the cases of Horner’s Syndrome in cats are idiopathic.
Other causes includes:
Ear infection
Car accidents with trauma to the head, neck, or chest
Bite wounds
Foreign body
Tumor of the spine
As a result of a treatment (e.g.; ear cleaning) or medication
Read Full Q/A … : Cat Eye Care and Problems – WebMD
Q. I have a 6 yr, old, neutered, male tabby cat. His left eye is dilated and his right eye is normal. No recent meds. He is eating and acting normal.
ANSWER : A. You’re describing something called “anisocoria”, which means unequal pupil sizes. Sometimes as cats age their iris (the colored part of the eye) atropies and we’ll see one pupil take on a slightly different shape or appearance. But there are some concerning problems that can cause anisocoria, including certain inflammatory diseases, diseases of the neurologic system (brain or nerves controlling pupil size) and exposure to some drugs (unlikely in this case since you mentioned that he hasn’t been given any drugs).
I’m glad that he seems normal otherwise, but see a vet so that the eyes can be examined and you can make sure this is not a serious condition.
Read Full Q/A … : Dogs eye has anterior luxation – Questions & Answers
Q. I have a 1yr old male 38 lb Labradoodle and my gf just brought a month old kitten home. Can they interact? If not, for how long?
ANSWER : A. Interactions whenever a new pet is brought into the house should start off slow, then can be increased in time. The best steps when introducing a new cat is to allow your cat or kitten to have a room in the house all to him or herself. Allow your dog to sniff under the door to get used to the kitten’s scent, and even show your dog articles such as bedding the cat has slept on. After a few days, an introduction with your dog on leash, or a barrier such as a gate where both pets can look at each other but not see each other is best. This will allow each to get used to seeing the other without the ability to jump, bite or scratch the other. Once the two are used to this, then a face to face interaction can begin. If at any time a fight or scuffle breaks out, separate the two pets and try again at a later time. The amount of time this introduction takes can vary depending on how the two react to each other.
Until your kitten is older, or you are sure both are fine together, do not leave the two pets together unattended. Even a well-meaning and playful dog can accidentally break a leg of a kitten or worse without meaning to! A safe room for your kitten to be in while you are away, or a barrier to allow your kitten to escape to safety if needed will help until both are big enough to play alone safely.
Read Full Q/A … : Dogs and Jealousy
Q. Weak, discharge from eyes, swelling on right eye, does not want to open eyes. What is wrong?
ANSWER : A. If the discharge from the eye is green or yellow in color, it can indicate a secondary infection. Swollen eyes can be caused by a number of things ranging from allergies to infections, to injury to the eye itself or surrounding areas.
It is best to have your pet’s eye examined by your local vet. They will most likely wish to place a stain in the eye that can check for damage such as cuts or scratches. An ointment can then be given to help reduce inflammation, pain and take care of infection.
Until you can get to the vet, be sure to not let your pet scratch or paw at their eye as this can make things worse. You can also use a warm wet washcloth to gently remove any debris and allow the eye to open some, providing relief. However, if symptoms worsen, or the swelling travels to the face, head or neck, it may indicate a serious allergic reaction which should be treated immediately.
Read Full Q/A … : Causes, Treatment, and Home Remedies for Swollen Eyelids
Q. I recently added a new 2 month old female kitten to my house and my male 5 month the old kitten has turned aggressive and chases the kitten down..
ANSWER : A. It is possible it could be play behavior but without seeing it in person, hard to say. Is the male kitten neutered? You may want to consider doing so. Also, try re-introducing the kittens slowly by creating a safe space for the new kitten behind a closed door in a room. Keep her there for at least a week so she is protected but your male is still able to smell her. After a week or 2, you can then graduate to using a baby gate so they can then not only smell each other but safely see each other as well. If that is going okay, after another few days you can bring the gate down. Also, be sure to have feeding bowls in separate locations and at least 2 litter boxes.
Read Full Q/A … : Ragdoll Cats
Q. My pet is suffering eyes discharge, what should I do?
ANSWER : A. Mucus, yellow-green pus, or a watery eye discharge can all be signs of conjunctivitis, which is inflammation of the lining of your dog’s eye.
There is a wide range of causes for conjunctivitis, from allergies, injury, birth defects, and tear duct problems, to foreign bodies, dry eye syndrome, infections or even tumors.
Other signs of conjunctivitis include excessive blinking or keeping the eye closed, squinting and pawing at the eyes.
Treatment of this condition depends on the underlying cause. In most of the cases cleaning, soothing the eye and applying antibiotics eye drops suffice but is some instances further investigation is required to establish the cause of the excessive eye discharge, and this should be performed by a veterinarian.
Read Full Q/A … : 3 Ways to Clean Gunk from Your Dog's Eyes – wikiHow
Q. My 6 year old male neutered cat has suddenly developed an eye problem where one pupil is enlarged and covers the eye and the other one is pinpoint siz
ANSWER : A. This phenomenon is called Anisocoria (inequality of pupil size). There are several different causes of this including glaucoma, anterior uveitis, cancer of the eye, old age change, etc.
To help pinpoint what could be causing your pets condition I would recommend a thorough eye exam. Your vet may need to refer your pet out to an opthalmologist if any abnormalities are seen that need further treatment.
To help pinpoint what could be causing your pets condition I would recommend a thorough eye exam. Your vet may need to refer your pet out to an opthalmologist if any abnormalities are seen that need further treatment.
Read Full Q/A … : META-INF/MANIFEST.MFname/audet/samuel/shorttyping
Q. I have two 3 week old kittens that I am bottle feeding. The kittens both have diareaa and there buts are red. Is there anything I can do ?
ANSWER : A. Diarrhea in kittens can be caused by many things, including intestinal parasites (very common in kittens), wrong formula, recent changes in diet (from queen’s milk to formula or from one formula to another), and other gastrointestinal upsets. Their bottoms are likely red and irritated from the diarrhea soiling the fur and skin, trapping moisture against the skin and serving as a breeding ground for bacteria. First, stop feeding the formula. Second, collect a fecal sample to be analyzed by your veterinarian for intestinal parasites. Third, call your vet and make an appointment as soon as possible, ideally the same day. Diarrhea in kittens is serious business and can lead to death from dehydration and loss of nutrients. Finally, in place of formula give an electrolyte replacement solution (like Pedialyte for infants/children) – plain, no flavors, no colors – for at least the next 1-2 feedings. This is not the same as a sports drink. After the 1st or 2nd feeding of straight electrolyte replacement solution, start to add formula back into diet at 1/4 strength ( 1 part formula to 3 parts water), The following feeding mix 2 parts formula to 2 parts water. Then, 3 parts formula to 1 part water. Finally, offer full-strength formula. If the diarrhea continues or worsens with increasing amounts of formula, go back to just electrolyte solution and repeat the process.
Read Full Q/A … : Raising Orphaned kittens Part 2: What to do, week by week
