Kitten with Slightly Crusty Eyes

Hello,

I visited a cattery with British Shorthair kittens a few weeks ago and the kitten reserved for me (the only female) had slightly crusty eyes. The breeder said she asked the vet and he said that the kitten is not ill. The breeder told me it's something to do with the formation or development or whatever of the tear ducts (some kittens' apparently develop later).

To get a few things straight: this breeder has a pretty good reputation and I will be getting a 1-year guarantee etc.

However, I'm due to pick up the kitten next week and I would like to know if this is something I should be terribly worried about?

*photo attached*

Well, I'm no expert on kitten development but I have fostered a few kittens and crusty eyes have never been a part of normal development among my foster kittens. Usually when a cat has "crusty eyes" it's because they have an eye discharge caused by some sort of infection, often an upper respiratory infection. However, some cats have eye discharge normally that will dry and become a bit crusty. Usually the dried discharge will be by the corner of the eye and sometimes running down the sides of the nose. That's normal and nothing to worry about.
Was the crusty stuff on the kitten's eyes around the whole eye or just in the corner area? What color was it? Did any of the other cats have any similar symptoms?

If this is caused by some kind of eye infection it's usually nothing serious. It can be treated successfully. The only possible long term damage from an eye infection that I know of is a blocked tear duct. A blocked tear duct will cause the kitty to have a runny eye but it's nothing dangerous and it's not a common effect of conjunctivitis, especially if it's treated.
If it's caused by a URI that would of course be contagious to any other cats you may have so it may be a good idea to bring the kitten straight to a vet before you take her home just to be on the safe side. If it was me I'd also ask to speak to the vet that examined the kitten and said that she's not ill. Maybe he can explain the issue better to you.

Good luck!

Hello!

Thank you for your reply. I was abroad for a while so sorry that I'm replying so late.

The crusts were in the corner and it was dark. As far as I remember, I didn't see it on her brothers and sister so I wasn't sure if it was something or not.

To update: I picked her up today and she doesn't have crusty eyes anymore. She's really sweet. Very happy

Oh, the dark stuff in the corner is normal eye discharge. A couple of my cats have that all the time. You should only worry if it's yellow or greenish, thick and all over the eye.

Congratulations on the new kitty! I'd love to see some pics when you get a chance!

I noticed that she still has it but I guess it's normal (we don't know because our current cat is jet black )