Showing 3rd eyelid... what does that mean?

I am afraid to do that search, my willies eyes are showing that but he is sick, he was lost and we got him back after a month and hes sooo skinny, and he is sneexing but not much anymore thank goodness, and he is eating now he started to today and he is drinking lots and lots of water, but he isnt going to the bathroom really and the 3rd eyelid is scaring me but I am hoping that ur kittie and my kittie work through this I kno how u are feeling but I have been on call for Willie since he came home wed !!! I just dont understand these people see a strange cat dont look at any of the posters saying lost cat and dont feed him or try to but take him to the shleter and says hes friendly and a stray (but had a collar on) But I am hoping that your baby is ok !! And I hope its nothing serious !! Sorry I am not much help but I do know how u are feeling right now !!!

The third eyelid (when not present due to extreme happiness) usually comes out when a cat is sick and/or dehydrated. Since your cat already has the flu, my bet is that the eye-lid is just another symptom. Cats are pretty good at hiding sickness in early stages so normally if you see the third eye-lid it's wise to get a vet check ASAP to catch whatever it is in it's early stages. Since you have to call the vet anyways to check on results, list off the symptoms that are still present, including the third-eyelid, but I would be more concerned with the breathing problems your cat is having.

In addition to just being another symptom of it's illness, the third eyelid being present could be a sign of an eye infection, these are usually very easy to cure (an antibiotic shot and eye drops for awhile) and are fairly common (I think) in cats that have been recently sick as their immune system is already weakened.

Some other things to check with the eyes, is there a lot of discharge coming from them? You'll notice a lot of "eye boogies", and they'll reappear fairly quickly (within an hour or 2) of cleaning them off. Also, if your cat is wiping it's paws on it's face more than usual (kind of like it's trying to rub or scratch it's eyes), these are often signs of an eye infection.

Not to worry you, but the real problem with cats being able to hide their condition so well is that they will often get from bad to worse very quickly. If you could maybe get home to check on your cat on your lunch break that would be good. Talk to your vet and explain the situation, they'll probably have you bring your cat in for another inspection, tell them to check for eye infection. If you can't get back on your lunch break, be prepared to spend some quality time giving your cat some TLC this afternoon and possibly another vet visit.

Third eyelid is often a sign of high fever, too. I would hope at this point your vet could prescribe an antibiotic. Also, Neo-synepherine "Baby Noses" nose drops are said to be safe in kitties for unblocking their noses. But cats don't often cough, so I think you vet needs to really check that out. (Oh, and you can run a hot steamy shower and sit in the bathroom with your kitty and that may help decongest her little lungs.)

Luck!

And I don't really like hearing some of the things about the first vet. Yes, they are probably busy and cats probably aren't their number one focus, but she definitely not feeling well, and should get some treatment!

My cat has this probelm with sneezing and coughing. I keep the house temp up a little higher than i like and put the humidifier/vaporizer on. Works like a charm. Give your cat l-lysine 1000mg while it is showing signs of sickness and 500mg afterward. It comes in many forms (gel, tab, etc.) find what works best for your kitty. I crush tabs in her food....no taste smell nada....works well!

If you can't keep the heat up you can also get a warming bed or blanket (for kitties) it warms up when they lay on it. Good luck! As long as your kitty is eating and going potty alright i wouldn't overly worry. Just keep an eye on her.

I'm glad you were able to get through to your vet! And good job calling another one, I'd be a little worried that with sneezing, they didn't do more than just draw some blood (often some sort of antibiotic shot is given in case it's just allergies). And the vet should never be rude to you, imagine what they're being like to your cat! (although the receptionist could just be having a bad day).

For future reference, you can always check for dehydration by pulling up some of your cat's scruff, if it doesn't go back immediately (within 2 seconds), then they're dehydrated.

Please keep us updated!

Yes, the third eyelid showing is common when a cat is sick and/or has a fever. It's most likely just that, and not a symptom of something separate.