TL;DR: Excessive blinking in cats is usually a sign of minor eye irritation, but you should consult a veterinarian if the blinking is constant, accompanied by discharge, or if the eye is held shut.
What does it mean if my cat is blinking excessively?
Excessive blinking, medically referred to as blepharospasm, is a physical reaction to discomfort or irritation in one or both eyes. Unlike the slow blink cats use to show affection, this rapid or repetitive blinking suggests that something is bothering the ocular surface or the eyelids. It is often caused by environmental irritants like dust, minor scratches, or mild allergic reactions.
When is excessive blinking in cats considered a medical emergency?
- Urgency Level: Low. In most instances, occasional excessive blinking is not an immediate medical emergency.
- Monitoring: If your cat is otherwise behaving normally and the eye does not appear traumatized, you can typically monitor the situation for 24 hours.
- Veterinary Consultation: Schedule a visit if you notice a change in the eye's color or heavy green discharge.
- Immediate Attention: Seek care if your cat is keeping the eye clamped shut or if there are signs of severe trauma.
How does taking a photo of my cat's eye help with veterinary triage?
- Visual Clarity: A high-quality image allows a professional to look for subtle signs of swelling, redness, or foreign objects.
- Reduced Stress: Visual evidence can be assessed without the cat needing to be physically restrained.
- Care Determination: Photos help the vet decide if the issue can be managed with home care or requires an urgent in-person examination.
Clinical Context (Merck Veterinary Manual)
In cats, excessive blinking can be associated with various ophthalmic and systemic conditions. Common causes include infectious diseases such as feline herpesvirus-1, Chlamydia, and Mycoplasma, which often manifest as acute or recurrent conjunctivitis. Feline herpesvirus-1 can also lead to ulcerative and stromal keratitis, proliferative keratoconjunctivitis, corneal sequestrum, corneal symblepharon, and keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Systemic diseases like feline infectious peritonitis, toxoplasmosis, feline immunodeficiency virus, and feline leukemia virus can present as anterior and posterior uveitis. Eyelid inflammations may be linked to systemic Demodex cati and D gatoi, Notoedres cati (scabies), ringworm, and immune-mediated skin diseases.
Chapter: Ophthalmology, Infectious Disease, Dermatology, Immunology
Source: The Merck Veterinary Manual, 11th Edition (Page 505)