A teary-eyed cat isn't necessarily something to worry about. Why do cats cry, though, and how can you stop cat eyes from watering?

By Clara Danneberg, Evan Williams

Has your beautiful little kitty approached you for a cuddle? Are its eyes weeping? Are you curious about what's going on? Let's take a look at why your cat is crying and what you can do about it.

Cats do, in fact, have tear ducts. They are located in the inner corner of the eye and usually discharge colorless tear fluid that looks like water. Now, cats don't necessarily cry because of emotional distress, but for a variety of other reasons that can be a lot more serious.

If a cat cries, it could indicate that it's infected with all sorts of diseases, parasites, and other nasty things. Seeing as many of the reasons for such behavior can be quite dangerous for a cat's health, it's important to contact your vet for advice before moving forward with any other solutions.

In this cat guide, we will take you through why a cat may have watery eyes and may seem to be crying. We will also suggest a few things you can do to help a crying cat.

There are three main reasons why a cat may cry: they are a breed that is susceptible to watery eyes, they have irritated or dry eyes, or are experiencing some kind of health problem. Most of these issues are rather innocuous and, in most cases, you have nothing to worry about.

That isn't always the case, though, so it is worth making sure that your cat is healthy and completely OK before you dismiss the issue. Let's help you with that...

Many cats are susceptible to watery eyes simply due to their breed. This is due to the fact that certain cat types derive from too small of a gene pool, causing a flattened nose and a shortened tear duct. As a result, they will cry a lot more than other cats.

These cat breeds are prone to watery eyes:

If your kitty is crying more often than you would expect, you should probably take it to the vet. They will be able to decide whether your cat is being affected by the characteristics of its breed or something a little more sinister.

Here are some possible environmental reasons for a cat's watery eyes:

In the case that your cat is crying due to one of these causes, it should stop once you have resolved the issue. Such solutions can involve getting an air humidifier and purifier, keeping things clean, avoiding sprays, refraining from smoking outside, and using an exhaust fan above your stove top.

Warning: Essential oils can actually be toxic for both cats and dogs. It is recommended that you avoid burning such chemicals if you have a pet.

Possible diseases and afflictions that may cause watery eyes include:

The exact cause of a cat's watery eye should only be determined by a veterinarian, so make sure that if you have even the smallest suspicion of something being wrong, you get your kitty examined immediately.

If you notice that your cat's eyes have been crying and watering far more than normal, and there is no environmental explanation for this symptom, you should take it to the veterinarian at the earliest opportunity. This especially goes if your cat's crying is coupled with any redness, swelling, bleeding, or inflammation.

There are many diseases that could cause your cat to cry. Many are actually relatively benign, but others can cause long term health impacts and even death. As a result, we have compiled a short list of other symptoms that could suggest that your cat needs to see a vet.

Other symptoms of disease in a crying cat:

Please keep in mind: This is not an exhaustive list of every single possible symptom of disease in your cat. If you have any concerns, even if the symptom exhibited is not listed here, take it to the vet.

Try to stay calm if you find that your cat is often crying. It could simply be an environmental factor that is causing this issue, so the first thing you should do is check the following things: make sure that the air isn't too dry, that there are no chemicals floating around, your cat is not injured, and that you haven't been smoking inside.

You need to take a closer look at your cat's eyes if they are watering. Be careful (so that you don't get slashed in the face!) and check for the symptoms we listed above. If you suspect that your cat is not doing very well, it should be taken to a veterinarian.

Warning: Home remedies aren't a thing for issues relating to the eyes (that goes for humans and animals). Due to the severity of such an affliction, if you have cause to worry that your cat's eyes are at risk in any way, the vet should be your first port of call.

We wouldn't recommend trying to clean a cat's watering eyes yourself. However, if you do, it should only be to remove a bit of dust, dried tears, or similar, from the surrounding areas. Be incredibly careful, though, and make sure not to touch the eyes themselves or rub more dirt into them.

Here's how to clean your cat's eyes:

Step 1 : Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly beforehand and then put on clean gloves. Slightly moisten two lint-free microfiber cloths with lukewarm water.

Step 2 : Make sure that your cat is chilled out and relaxing, before putting it into your lap and holding it firmly. Gently wipe around the eye of the cat, particularly focusing on underneath the eye (where the tears gather if your cat has been crying).

Hot tip: If you think that your cat's eyes are dirty and need to be cleaned thoroughly, then this should be done by a veterinarian. That being said, when doing it yourself, it is useful to have one person hold the cat whilst the other does the cleaning.

It is not particularly unusual for your cat to weep once in a while. It's a sad world, after all, and we're all allowed a bit of existential dread from time to time. Things get a bit different, though, when it becomes more common and conspicuous.

If a cat cries more often than usual and has started exhibited other behaviors typical of a sick cat, then it's time to head-on-over to the veterinarian office. Keep your cat safe, keep it healthy, and get it checked out.

Cover photo: Unsplash / Abeer Zaki

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