How to Use Eye Drops on a Cat: 11 Steps (with Pictures)

Table of contents:

How to Use Eye Drops on a Cat: 11 Steps (with Pictures)
How to Use Eye Drops on a Cat: 11 Steps (with Pictures)

Video: How to Use Eye Drops on a Cat: 11 Steps (with Pictures)

Video: How to Use Eye Drops on a Cat: 11 Steps (with Pictures)
Video: Easiest way to determine a kitten's age! 2024, March
Anonim

No cat in the world that likes to be immobilized and have to take medicine. But even if the animal is extremely uncomfortable with the situation, it is possible to apply the drops at home, without having to go to the vet every time. Just have a little patience and a certain firmness when holding the pussy to be able to apply the medicine. It may take several tries for the cat to calm down enough, but remember that it will feel much better after receiving the drops.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Holding the Cat

Give Your Cat Eye Drops Step 1
Give Your Cat Eye Drops Step 1

Step 1. Place the cat on your lap

One of the most important things to get the drops in is to hold the cat well, so start by putting it on your lap. When he's lying down and looking calm, place your forearm on top of his body to keep him in place. The cat's body should be resting against your belly.

  • Sit where you are most comfortable - on the sofa, in a chair, in bed, etc.
  • Use the non-dominant forearm to hold the animal's body. For example, right-handed people should use their left forearm to hold the cat.
  • Wrap the cat in a towel so that only its head is sticking out if you think it will try to scratch you.
  • You can also sit on the floor and place the cat between your legs if you can't get it on your lap. Use your knees to hold it in place.
Give Your Cat Eye Drops Step 2
Give Your Cat Eye Drops Step 2

Step 2. Place the cat on a table or other raised surface

It may be better and more comfortable to stand up and place the animal in an elevated position. Place a towel underneath if the surface is slippery, so you don't run the risk of the cat slipping during the process. Wrap the cat itself in the towel if you prefer.

You need to experiment and test a few times to decide if it's better to hold the feline in your lap or place it on a table to apply the drops

Give Your Cat Eye Drops Step 3
Give Your Cat Eye Drops Step 3

Step 3. Position the animal's head

You will need to keep the cat's head still in place with your non-dominant hand. Place your thumb on one side of the animal's jaw, and the rest of your fingers on the other side. The palm should fit the animal's chin. That way you can hold his head steady.

Carefully push his head up, which will make it easier to aim the drops in his eye

Part 2 of 3: Using eye drops

Give Your Cat Eye Drops Step 4
Give Your Cat Eye Drops Step 4

Step 1. Clean the animal's eyes

The cat's eyes must be free of any secretions to enhance the effect of the eye drops. Clean the pussy's eyes by wiping a dab of cotton wool moistened with an eye cleaning solution, if necessary.

In addition to the eye drops, the veterinarian will recommend the appropriate product to clean the animal's eyes

Give Your Cat Eye Drops Step 5
Give Your Cat Eye Drops Step 5

Step 2. Keep the eyelid open

Use the thumb of your non-dominant hand to pull down the cat's lower eyelid. This will create a small pouch where you can aim the drops.

Although it is more convenient, it is not necessary for the drops to fall there. The drops will quickly spread over the entire length of the eye, so it is not necessary to aim at any specific location for the drops to work

Give Your Cat Eye Drops Step 6
Give Your Cat Eye Drops Step 6

Step 3. Position the applicator tip above the cat's eye

Hold the applicator tip about two inches above the animal's eye. Be very careful not to let it touch. In addition to being quite uncomfortable for the cat, it could also contaminate the applicator tip.

  • Aim the applicator tip toward the pouch that forms by pulling down the cat's lower eyelid.
  • Rest your dominant hand on top of the cat's head. This will make it easier to aim the drops and prevent the applicator tip from touching the eye.
  • Leave the lid nearby, on a clean surface.
Give Your Cat Eye Drops Step 7
Give Your Cat Eye Drops Step 7

Step 4. Pour in the eye drops

Squeeze the container and drop the number of drops your veterinarian prescribed. Be quick and be careful not to overdo it.

  • Repeat the procedure in the other eye if necessary to treat both with eye drops.
  • If the cat is very nervous and agitated, release it and wait for it to calm down. Try again later. It's almost impossible to put eye drops in the eyes of a cat that won't sit still.

Part 3 of 3: Knowing what to do after using the drops

Give Your Cat Eye Drops Step 8
Give Your Cat Eye Drops Step 8

Step 1. Keep the cat still

Even if the pussy has behaved well so far, it will probably want to let go after you put the drops on. The animal's first instinct will be to scratch its eyes. It is important to keep it still for a few more seconds so that the drops can disperse around the eyeball.

Give Your Cat Eye Drops Step 9
Give Your Cat Eye Drops Step 9

Step 2. Do not massage the animal's eyes

Some people may think that massaging the cat's eyes will help spread the eye drops into the eyes, but that's not true. The drops will quickly disperse around the eyeball on their own. The cat may enjoy getting a massage, but it's completely medically unnecessary.

Give Your Cat Eye Drops Step 10
Give Your Cat Eye Drops Step 10

Step 3. Have a snack

A good way to distract the pussy after using the eye drops is to offer something tasty to eat. Every pet loves to get a treat after the owner puts on medicine. A small piece of tuna is very welcome. Another option is to apply the drops just before mealtime, so the food will be like a reward for putting up with the process.

Offer snacks in a moderate amount, as you will probably need to apply the drops several times a day. It's not a good idea to stuff your cat with food every time you use the drops

Give Your Cat Eye Drops Step 11
Give Your Cat Eye Drops Step 11

Step 4. Look for signs of discomfort

In general, the eye drops should not cause discomfort when touching the animal's eyes. It is normal for the cat to blink a lot after the drops touch the eye. However, if it's too uncomfortable, the cat will try to scratch its eyes with its paw or even rub its face on the floor. Contact your veterinarian if the cat seems extremely uncomfortable after receiving the drops.

Tips

  • Applying eye drops to a cat can be very difficult, but don't give up! Keep trying until you get it.
  • Ask your veterinarian for more tips if your cat is particularly difficult to handle.
  • Have someone hold the cat or use the eye drops. Maybe it's easier with two people involved.
  • Eye problems in cats usually resolve quickly. Keep using the drops as instructed by the veterinarian even if you notice a very big improvement.

Recommended: