For most cats there is no need to clean their eyes on a regular basis although some pedigree breeds such as the Persian may need some regular assistance to clean their eyes. In any cat it is not unusual to find small deposits in the corner of their eyes and these can easily be cleaned away using some moistened cotton wool. To avoid any infection it is advised that you use cooled boiled water for this.

Cat's eyes are different from ours by the fact that they have three eye lids. Two are like human eyelids and go up and down but a third or haw lid moves across the eye going from the nose side to the outer face. Normally you will not see the haw lid but it can be visible if your cat gets some dust or dirt in its eye. In this case you can bathe your cats eyes with a little diluted eye wash and this should help remove the dirt and soothe the eye.

However, the appearance of the haw eyelid can also indicate other problems such as cat flu or other impending illness. A simple check is that if the haw eyelid is only visible in one eye, in this case it is probably an indication that there is dust or dirt in the eye but if both eyes have a visible haw then it could be the first sign of an illness. If the haw lid has not retracted within 24 hours the cat should be taken to the vet for advice.

Cats unlike humans' do not cry for emotional reasons. For them the tear fluid is produced simply to keep their eyes clean and moist. For most cats the fluid produced drains away down the naso-lacrimal ducts which run from each eye down into the nasal passages. However, in some flat faced breeds such as the Persian this does not work so effectively and as a result the fluid runs down the face. This is known as epiphora which can also happen to any cat if its tear ducts become blocked for any reason.

Normally this is not too much of a problem and all you need to do is wipe the soiled area with a cotton wool ball soaked in cooled boiled water. If the discharge looks cloudy or you're pet appears to be in any pain whilst you are cleaning the area around the eyes you should seek advice from your vet.