Skip to Content

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Cat Eye Boogers – What Are They, & How To Deal With Them

Cat Eye Boogers – What Are They, & How To Deal With Them

It’s happened to almost every cat owner at least once. You spot your cat walking by you on the bed and notice that there are eye boogers around their eyes. You grab him and swipe the eye boogers away with your thumbs. Without fail, your cat struggles against you. Every time you see those eye boogers, you find yourself asking questions about the eye boogers. So, what are exactly are cat eye boogers?

Many cats develop eye discharge, also known as cat eye boogers, around their eyes. The eye boogers can be several different colors and may cling to the area around your cat’s eyes. 

There’s a lot to learn about your cat’s eye boogers, so we’re going to cover just about everything you’re going to need or want to know about them. Keep on reading to learn more about those gross boogers in your cat’s eyes! 

Are Eye Boogers Normal For Cats

Eye boogers are normal for cats, but that doesn’t mean eye boogers are something you should look forward to your cat having.

To know if eye boogers are normal, you’re going to need to know what is causing your cat’s eye boogers. More on that later. 

There will be a lot you need to know about eye boogers to know what is causing them, but here is a cheat sheet with three easy questions to keep an eye on:f

  • What color is the eye discharge or boogers?
  • When does your cat have eye boogers?
  • How often do you see your cat with eye boogers?

If you are ever unsure why your cat’s eyes look the way they do, then it is always the best idea to speak with your vet. 

Why Does My Cat Have Eye Boogers

Your cat will usually have eye boogers for three reasons: he just woke up, he has an underlying condition, or his eye has been injured.

There may be a few more reasons as to why your cat has eye boogers, but you should remember that these are one of the three most common reasons. 

Your Cat Just Woke Up

You might notice some crusty goop around your cat’s eyes after he just woke up. 

This is just like what happens to humans, so there isn’t a big concern if you see crusty bits of discharge around your cat’s eyes.

Usually, your cat himself will wipe away the crust in his eyes with his paws. 

Eye Boogers From An Underlying Condition

Eye boogers can be from an underlying condition in your cat, like feline herpes. 

Now, herpes is a scary word for humans, but it is not as scary when it is in cats.

Some cats are born with feline herpes. There is no curing feline herpes, but you can manage them with treatment.

One of the ways that your cat presents symptoms of feline herpes is through a large number of eye boogers and a congested upper respiratory system. 

Eye Injury

Eye boogers can be from an eye injury or irritation. 

Eye boogers from an eye injury are going to be easier to spot and understand. Your cat’s eye will probably have redness and irritation along with it. 

Your vet should promptly deal with eye injuries to know that the injury will not turn into something worse. 

What Causes Cat Eye Boogers

Let’s talk a little more about feline herpes, known by its full title as feline herpes viral conjunctivitis. 

As I’ve already mentioned, feline herpes often presents itself through your cat’s eyes. Here are some things to look out for in your cats, and especially in your kittens:

  • Swollen eyes
  • Squinting or constant closing of eyes
  • Discharge, which is what we’re going to be focused on in this article. The discharge may be anywhere from cloudy to a greenish-yellow. Think about what your mucus looks like.
  • Additional respiratory issues, like sneezing and coughing

The exact cause of feline herpes is difficult to know; other than that, it is because of the virus.

Feline herpes can be scary because it can present itself quickly and suddenly. Sometimes there is no rhyme or reason why your cat will develop these symptoms.

Some studies point to stressful situations as being one of the triggers of the disease. Some situations include:

  • Boarding
  • Prolonged vet stay
  • Surgery
  • Travel
  • Severe Illness

Many of these situations are difficult to stop or prevent, but it is still important to know what some of the situations may be. 

Why Are My Cat’s Eye Boogers Brown

Your cat’s eye boogers are brown because they have touched the air.

The gunk that comes from your cat’s eyes is usually white or a slightly opaque white color. Your cat’s eye discharge does not start as the brown color that it becomes.

Your cat’s eye boogers hit the air once they are released from the body.

As your cat’s eye boogers dry in the air, they become darker and harder. Often, they will not harden and instead feel gummy and sticky. It all depends on your cat and how long they stay.

Brown eye boogers are not any more reason for concern than white or clear eye discharge. It’s simply nature doing its thing. 

Why Are Cats’ Eye Boogers Black

Black eye boogers mean that your cat’s eye boogers are old and have absorbed dust and other things in the air. 

The longer your cat’s eye boogers stick around, the worse they’re going to become.

Your cat’s eye boogers will start brown, but they will get darker and darker if they are not cleaned.

As the discharge in your cat’s eyes interacts with the air, they will become darker.

In addition, there is dust, dander, pollen, and several other microscopic particles in the air that will get trapped in the eye boogers.

Why Are My Cat’s Eye Boogers So Bad

Your cat’s eye boogers may be part of an underlying disease that needs to be treated with special eye drops. 

Sometimes eye boogers are bad because your cat has a disease that is making them so bad.

Your cat’s eye boogers may be bad and not getting better because they need eye drops. These eye drops have a special medication in them that will help your cat’s eye boogers clear up. You may also be able to find the same medication in an ointment. 

Your vet will give you exceptional guidance about using the eye drops and how often you need to use them.

Conversely, your cat’s eye boogers may not be from a disease; instead, they could be from cats.

If there is one thing that cats always like to do, it’s sleep. Your cat may have eye boogers that are bad because your cat is always asleep and doesn’t clean himself up when he does wake up. 

Should You Clean Your Cat’s Eye Boogers

Yes, you should clean your cat’s eye boogers.

Although it’s a job that very few cat owners enjoy, it is essential to clean the gummed-up eye discharge around your cat’s eyes.

There are a few reasons why you should clean your cat’s eyes. Some reasons are more superficial than others:

  • Your cat will look better if his eyes are clean.
  • The eye boogers will not end up stuck to your bed, furniture, or clothes.
  • If the boogers stay on your cat’s eye, they can lead to an eye infection.

Sure, it is gross to see your cat walking around with eye boogers.

While the look of your cat is always a concern because he’s your best friend, the real problem is that the eye boogers can lead to an infection. The boogers can continue to trap irritants in the air that can irritate or scratch your cat’s eyes.

How Do You Get Rid Of Cat Eye Boogers

Cleaning your cat’s eye boogers is surprisingly quick and easy.

If you want to clean your cat’s eyes, here’s what to do:

  • Grab a soft washcloth or piece of paper towel.
  • Dampen cloth or paper towel with water from the sink. It can be warm, but it should not be hot.
  • Press the towel to your cat’s eyes to soften the eye boogers.
  • Swipe away the eye boogers after a few seconds.

Sometimes we are in more of a pinch and do not have a washcloth or paper towel handy. If that’s the case, you can use your thumbs to wipe away the eye boogers, but your cat may find it uncomfortable and struggle against you. 

How Can I Help My Kitten’s Eye Discharge

The good thing to keep in mind is that eye discharge from feline herpes will usually resolve itself in a few weeks.

If you notice that your cat or kitten is suffering from feline herpes, most cases will usually clear up within about two or three weeks. 

This means that feline herpes has a period and will usually not last forever.

You can take additional actions as well, aside from topical medications, as we’ve already discussed.

Try a product called L-lysine. This is a supplement that you can add to your cat’s food. Of course, this product also will not cure your cat, but it can help manage your cat’s symptoms. 

Another option for you is a vaccine with the virus, which will help your cat gain resistance to the virus. While this may be an effective method for helping your cat, it may be a more difficult treatment to find. 

Will Cat Eye Boogers Go Away On Its Own

There is a chance that your cat’s eye boogers will go away on their own without you cleaning them away or using medication.

Sometimes eye boogers are just because of allergies. You may not think that cats can have allergies, but they can, just like you and me.

Freshly cut grass or new flowers blooming can cause your cat’s eyes to water more than usual. This discharge may begin to gunk up in your cat’s eyes. 

Please pay attention to when your cat’s eye boogers go away and when they get worse.

If it is allergies, I can almost guarantee you that your cat’s eyes will gather eye boogers in your eyes. His eyes will start to clear up when the crisp, fall air sets in. 

When Should I Worry About Cat’s Eye Discharge

There are a few aspects of your cat’s eyes that you should worry about when you see cat eye discharge or boogers:

  • There is blood in your cat’s eye, boogers. This may not be from the discharge, but your cat may have scratched his eye. 
  • Your cat’s eyes are watering. Again, this can mean that there is eye irritation. 
  • Your cat’s eyes are red. This should be especially problematic if one of your cat’s eyes is red, not both.
  • Even with treatment, your cat’s eye discharge isn’t going away or letting up. 

Whenever there are visible changes in your cat, you should make an appointment with your vet. This is even more vital when it has to do with your cat’s eyes. 

Eye problems in your cat can quickly lead to other issues. Although the chances are small, it is possible that your cat could go blind, which is not something any cat owner wants to hear or deal with! 

Is Cat Eye Boogers Contagious To Humans 

No, your cat’s eye boogers are not going to be contagious to humans. 

When you see those eye boogers in your cat’s eyes, you may be scared that you will get them, too, especially if the eye boogers are because of a disease. 

Eye boogers and eye discharge are not something you’re going to get just because you touched your eyes after touching your cat. 

That said, you’re still going to want to make sure that you wash your hands after handling your cat or cleaning your cat’s eye boogers.

The eye boogers are a problem for your cat, but not one that you should worry about contacting yourself!