Cat with different size pupils

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Discussion

SL

Original Poster:

868 posts

231 months

Monday 11th July 2011
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I've just come home and noticed that my cat has different sized pupils - one pupil seems to be permanently large whereas the other one is reacting normally. He's happy and fine in himself although the right hand side of his face (the same side as the large pupil) seems a little sore. He is eating fine and is generally acting as he normally does.

He's recently been really ill - had to be kept in for three days at the vets on a drip as he had an inflamed liver. He's still on some medication, plus his Felimazole, but is due to finish his treatment tomorrow.

Do I need to take him to the emergency vet tonight or is he OK to go tomorrow morning?

Mubby

1,237 posts

189 months

Tuesday 12th July 2011
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Its probably related to his side of face being sore, I believe different sized pupils can be as a result of head trauma or injury, possibly an eye injury or infection, or even beginings of a cataract, I dont really know what to suggest..... the vets in morning is what I probably would do, you can always phone and ask what they think...

bexVN

14,682 posts

218 months

Tuesday 12th July 2011
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It could be blood pressure related (I assume he's on Felimazole for thyroid which can cause high blood pressure) which may result in detached retina. To be honest I'd try getting it checked today, eyes respond better to quicker treatment.

SL

Original Poster:

868 posts

231 months

Tuesday 12th July 2011
quotequote all
Thank you both.

We decided not to go to an emergency vets last night as he seemed really well within himself. We went to our normal vets this morning, despite his pupils going back to their normal size, and I'm glad we did as it turns out he has an ulcer in his eye.

A grumpy cat plus eye drops three times a day is not much fun!! smile

Lippitt

869 posts

216 months

Tuesday 12th July 2011
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God I do NOT envy you having to put eye drops in a cat! It's bad enough trying to get pills down mine, have to wrap him in a towel so he looks like a tiny, very angry, furry baby Jesus!

bexVN

14,682 posts

218 months

Tuesday 12th July 2011
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So glad it is nothing more though and fits in better with the trauma to the face.

Actually thought you'd posted this today not last night.

Hopefuly will clear up quickly but keep a close check on it to make sure it doesn't get worse

SL

Original Poster:

868 posts

231 months

Tuesday 12th July 2011
quotequote all
Lippitt said:
God I do NOT envy you having to put eye drops in a cat! It's bad enough trying to get pills down mine, have to wrap him in a towel so he looks like a tiny, very angry, furry baby Jesus!
He's a really broken cat! We've only had him 5 months and he has cost more per month to run than a car!!

The trick to pills is to find a pate you can hide them in easily. Some are better than others and I've now found two brands where he'll quite happily wolf the pills down (he was on 5 per mealtime at one stage) and not spit any of them out.

This eyedrop malarkey is completely evil though. We've tried the towel thing but that didn't work. I know I'm going to get scratched sometime soon which will be fun as I'm actually allergic to cats hehe

Mubby

1,237 posts

189 months

Tuesday 12th July 2011
quotequote all
Lippitt said:
God I do NOT envy you having to put eye drops in a cat!
+1 yikes

glad you found out what it was and he is on the mend smile

bexVN

14,682 posts

218 months

Tuesday 12th July 2011
quotequote all
SL said:
Lippitt said:
God I do NOT envy you having to put eye drops in a cat! It's bad enough trying to get pills down mine, have to wrap him in a towel so he looks like a tiny, very angry, furry baby Jesus!
He's a really broken cat! We've only had him 5 months and he has cost more per month to run than a car!!

The trick to pills is to find a pate you can hide them in easily. Some are better than others and I've now found two brands where he'll quite happily wolf the pills down (he was on 5 per mealtime at one stage) and not spit any of them out.

This eyedrop malarkey is completely evil though. We've tried the towel thing but that didn't work. I know I'm going to get scratched sometime soon which will be fun as I'm actually allergic to cats hehe
Try and do it when he's half asleep don't go in for the big grab and pin down, as little handling as poss and speed.

Now I appreciate this is easy to say but believe me after years of putting drops and ointments in my own cats eyes I've tried many approaches.

My cat is the sweetest little thing and would never hurt me in aggression but he will squirm/ wriggle/ stress and do all he can to escape being held down especially for eye drops, this means he has inadvertantly scratched me. I found the above approach worekd best but only if my aim was accurate, now that's a skill in it's own right!!