Help!! My Tabby would not Let Me Administer Eye Drops in Him

It can be a very difficult predicament when you know that your tabby is suffering from an eye ailment. You cannot let your feline suffer in silence, hence; you take them to your veterinarian who diagnoses him and gives you eye drops that will assist in relieving the pain in the eyes of your tabby. But then one question comes to your mind: Is it that easy to administer eye drops in a cat? The answer to this question is probably a big “NO”. But there is nothing to worry as with a little patience and determination you can carry out this difficult task with much ease.

Remember that cats are just like babies; so you need to understand that they will not allow you to touch their eyes, because it probably pains. But the truth of the matter is that you should stay away from the suffering eyes of your poor tabby. The best thing to do is to hold your cat comfortably in your lap and then position the eye drop bottle in a correct position. Remember this will take some time to practice. You will not learn it in a day. But patience is the key when it is the question of the health of your beloved feline.

It has been observed that giving cat treats to your tabby prior to the treatment and after completion of the treatment will make them associate it with a positive thing. So, why not give a delicious treat to your tabby to distract him from the pain before planning to administer the eye drops. This will divert his attention from the new thing that he sees which might make him feel afraid. Once he eats the treat; slowly but gradually cover the feline in a towel, so that he can feel the comfort and safety in your arms.

Note: Never pick up the cat straight from the head because that would make him feel conscious. It can even mean that you are trying to poke him in the eye (which is hardly the case)…The best thing to do is to start from behind the head. This will ensure that the kitty does not feel afraid. Try to soothe the furry friend with praises so that you can calm his nerves. Remember, the more comfortable you make him feel; the better the results would be.

Safety precautions to be taken before administering the eye drop in your tabby:

• Read the label instructions on the back of the product cover meticulously by reading the instructions of use completely. In case of any confusion, get in touch with your veterinarian immediately.

• Since, we are talking about an eye ailment there are chances of infection, hence; it is recommended to wash your hands prior to and after administering the eye drops in cats. Ensure that the application tip of the eye drop is clean. It should not touch the eyelids of the cat. If the contact occurs by accident, wash the application tip in clean water and then wipe it with a clean cloth. If you are unsure about how to clean the application tip, seek advice from your veterinarian.

• In case of constant pain in your tabby’s eyes ask someone to assist you while you administer the eye drops in your cat. It has usually been found that once the treatment starts to work, the soreness reduces significantly and after some time the assistance will not be required.

• Clean the debris found outside the eyes of the cat very smoothly with lukewarm water and a wash cloth before administering the eye drops in your tabby

Instructions to follow for smooth administration of eye drops in your tabby:

• If you are alone, then the best thing to do is to put the feline in your lap. Wrap him in a blanket or towel, but do not cover his head

• If the cat is suffering from immense pain in the eyes or this is the first time you are administering the eye drop in your tabby it is best to ask someone else to hold the draped cat while you apply the drops

• Grip the bottle with the help of your thumb and index finger of your principal hand with the tip pointed downwards. Hold the head of the tabby with this hand for steadiness.

• Make use of the final two fingers of the same hand to pull back the upper eyelid. The remaining fingers should be under the jaw of your tabby to give stability to his head. The lower eyelid of the cat will receive the drops.

• Grip the bottle near the eyes of the feline, but ensure that
  they do not touch the eye surface of the cat

• Press the number of drops as prescribed by your veterinarian directly onto their eyeball with the direct aim to the center of the eye and then loosen the grip over the head of the feline

It is normal, if you find that your tabby blinks their eyes as it will assist in distributing the treatment over the surface of their eye. Some felines even paw at their eyes; once the administration of the drops is over. But if this cat behavior continues for a long time or the eyes appear more swollen or red after administration; consult your veterinarian immediately. Do share with us your personal experience of administering eye drops in your tabby; and we would be glad to integrate it in our forthcoming blogs.