Cat's eyes look strange - third eyelid showing, but cat not visibly sick

chaucer · Sep 14, 2016

My cat, Chaucer, is a 4 year-old neutered male. He has a history of colitis and cystitis, primairly due to stress, according to the vet. However, I believe there is something very wrong with him that may have nothing to do with these two things. His eyes started looking strange about a week ago - at first just "not right" as in a little glassy. A couple of days later the third eyelids were showing. I took him to the vet who thought he might have mild cystitis again and gave him a steroid shot to see if it helped. His bladder was only moderately-full. He'd had a full blood work-up four months ago when he had cystitis the first time and nothing showed to indicate he had something more serious. He's had fecal cultures in the past which indicated colitis. The vet has noticed his eyes but because he is eating and still fairly active and doesn't have fever, she wasn't as concerned.

The concern for me is that this thing with his eyes has nothing to do with cystitis or his colitis attacks or stress. It seems that when he is excited or interested in something, the lids retract. When he is not and when he is in bright light they show about a third across. Frankly, he looks stoned most of the time and he is not on any medication (other than when he had the shot). The only recent change has been a kitten I've been fostering for over three weeks. The kitten is leaving Saturday for his new home, but Chaucer is the only one of my three resident indoor cats who tolerates the kitten. While he considers Wordsworth (the kitten) a pest, he isn't hissing and growling at him and will play a bit with him. I have Feliway plugged in too.

Any ideas why both his third eyelids are doing this? The vet seems stumped by it. I don't want to write it off as stress. He's never had this sort of thing with his eyes before.

Thanks for your input.

mrsgreenjeens · Sep 15, 2016

I have no idea what would cause this, but did run across this very old thread, which could explain it: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/48369/cats-third-eyelid-showing-please-help

chaucer · Sep 15, 2016

catwoman707 · Sep 17, 2016

Hey there! Me again

I remember back when I was posting replies to your other thread about Orville, when you were describing Chaucer and were concerned that he was showing stress after adding Orville to the fam, and I pointed out from seeing that pic of him clearly cuddled and comfy with Orville, that I didn't see it as stress.

To be very honest, my gut instincts tell me Chaucer has some underlying issue(s) with his health.

The toughest part is, what......just what and how will it surface?

It may not ever, genetics and very early kittenhood, and the mom play a big role in a cat's makeup. Things we can not see or change unfortunately, and impossible to predict how it will play out.

Common for a vet to throw stress in to the mix when there are no real answers, and while some things are def stress related, I don't see Chaucer as one of those, his overall nature and personality shows a confident adjusted guy, for instance how he would mess with Henryetta, males don't usually do that, they more will be the opposite and very submissive with the girls.

He shows spunk and mischief, so for a cat to have health issues due to stress, I just don't see it with him.

I do see the inner lids as a window in to their internal works. There is something not right, but what, gosh even with endless funds for testing, etc that is often not going to find it either.

Oh what I would give to see my Krissy's future, how and when she will leave me, so I have a chance to change things now if there is something I can change......or to prepare myself for 'that time' that is inevitable.

He's young, so he has that on his side, and as long as he eats and plays, that's really all you can go by. Take it as it comes basically. I'm not one that can accept that easily either, just so you know. I would worry constantly, which of course does no good and doesn't change a darn thing, but it's me.

So I feel for you on this. I know how much he means to you.

catsknowme · Sep 17, 2016

Sorry that you aren't getting any answers from the medical tests. Perhaps you could consult a holistic vet - sometimes herbs will help the cat's body help itself. It works with humans, too - for years I was on asthma treatments but when I took marshmallow root & slippery elm for bladder problems, my breathing problems also went away! I use herbs & L-lysine for my cats for various common (and hard to diagnose) ailments and they seem to respond well - my vet is really good at looking up my proposed alternative treatments just to make sure I am not poisoning my cats. Maybe you can ask your vet, too, if they would approve some herbs - just remember that what works for people isn't the same as for cats, although there are some common herbs that are safe for both species.

chaucer · Sep 18, 2016

catsknowme said:
Sorry that you aren't getting any answers from the medical tests. Perhaps you could consult a holistic vet - sometimes herbs will help the cat's body help itself. It works with humans, too - for years I was on asthma treatments but when I took marshmallow root & slippery elm for bladder problems, my breathing problems also went away! I use herbs & L-lysine for my cats for various common (and hard to diagnose) ailments and they seem to respond well - my vet is really good at looking up my proposed alternative treatments just to make sure I am not poisoning my cats. Maybe you can ask your vet, too, if they would approve some herbs - just remember that what works for people isn't the same as for cats, although there are some common herbs that are safe for both species.

I live in a very small - less than 10,000, rural town. We have three vet clinics but no holistic vet. I could ask my regular vet if she knows of anything though. Thank you for the suggestion!

chaucer · Sep 18, 2016

catwoman707 said:
Hey there! Me again

I remember back when I was posting replies to your other thread about Orville, when you were describing Chaucer and were concerned that he was showing stress after adding Orville to the fam, and I pointed out from seeing that pic of him clearly cuddled and comfy with Orville, that I didn't see it as stress.

To be very honest, my gut instincts tell me Chaucer has some underlying issue(s) with his health.

The toughest part is, what......just what and how will it surface?

It may not ever, genetics and very early kittenhood, and the mom play a big role in a cat's makeup. Things we can not see or change unfortunately, and impossible to predict how it will play out.

Common for a vet to throw stress in to the mix when there are no real answers, and while some things are def stress related, I don't see Chaucer as one of those, his overall nature and personality shows a confident adjusted guy, for instance how he would mess with Henryetta, males don't usually do that, they more will be the opposite and very submissive with the girls.

He shows spunk and mischief, so for a cat to have health issues due to stress, I just don't see it with him.

I do see the inner lids as a window in to their internal works. There is something not right, but what, gosh even with endless funds for testing, etc that is often not going to find it either.

Oh what I would give to see my Krissy's future, how and when she will leave me, so I have a chance to change things now if there is something I can change......or to prepare myself for 'that time' that is inevitable.

He's young, so he has that on his side, and as long as he eats and plays, that's really all you can go by. Take it as it comes basically. I'm not one that can accept that easily either, just so you know. I would worry constantly, which of course does no good and doesn't change a darn thing, but it's me.

So I feel for you on this. I know how much he means to you.

I'm not sure it's anxiety or stress either. Chaucer is very social and he isn't afraid of other cats. In fact, he's the one who after three days of hissing at the kitten began letting him climb on him, chase him, play-fight with him, etc. That's what he did with Henryetta's last kitten too. (Foster kitten left yesterday -feel bad for forgetting to let the person who is transporting him that he sneezes quite a bit- but the vet didn't seem to think he had a problem - no real nasal or eye discharge and the kitten eats a lot and plays like crazy and he doesn't look ill. I thought it was inconsequential; however, the vet didn't catch that the kitten had ear mites and his ears I noticed in bright daylight are very, very dirty down inside - different vet than the one I generally see for my cats.)

Like you, I'm concerned that he isn't a well cat and it's something that is difficult to discover. I don't want to put him through lots of tests, and it's financially-draining too when they can't find anything. As a kitten he had to take a lot of high-powered stuff for being a ringworm carrier (he didn't show signs, but I got it from him). The meds listed that they can cause liver problems. The vet knows he threw up bile once last week. She is concerned but has no idea what is wrong and has said that they could do tests and such and never find anything at this stage.

Chaucer is eating a little better since starting the antibiotic liquid. He's playing more with the other two. What's strange is that when he is excited and his pupils are dilated, the inner eyelids retract almost all the way. It's when he isn't like this that they come up and he looks stoned. Could it be depression or boredom?

catwoman707 · Sep 18, 2016

Chaucer said:
I'm not sure it's anxiety or stress either. Chaucer is very social and he isn't afraid of other cats. In fact, he's the one who after three days of hissing at the kitten began letting him climb on him, chase him, play-fight with him, etc. That's what he did with Henryetta's last kitten too. (Foster kitten left yesterday -feel bad for forgetting to let the person who is transporting him that he sneezes quite a bit- but the vet didn't seem to think he had a problem - no real nasal or eye discharge and the kitten eats a lot and plays like crazy and he doesn't look ill. I thought it was inconsequential; however, the vet didn't catch that the kitten had ear mites and his ears I noticed in bright daylight are very, very dirty down inside - different vet than the one I generally see for my cats.)

Like you, I'm concerned that he isn't a well cat and it's something that is difficult to discover. I don't want to put him through lots of tests, and it's financially-draining too when they can't find anything. As a kitten he had to take a lot of high-powered stuff for being a ringworm carrier (he didn't show signs, but I got it from him). The meds listed that they can cause liver problems. The vet knows he threw up bile once last week. She is concerned but has no idea what is wrong and has said that they could do tests and such and never find anything at this stage.

Chaucer is eating a little better since starting the antibiotic liquid. He's playing more with the other two. What's strange is that when he is excited and his pupils are dilated, the inner eyelids retract almost all the way. It's when he isn't like this that they come up and he looks stoned. Could it be depression or boredom?

No, actually they do have the ability to draw the inners back, wide eyed, fear, as in face to face with a predator, which would put a cat in red alert mode, they will retract.

It's during the normal typical times during the day where he is doing whatever, but not just waking or not in excited mode, is when he is relaxed enough that they will be in their current state.

You will likely have to just see how things go with him, any new signs of something being off, etc.

It may take years, months, or see something tmrw, just impossible to predict of course.

Without going back and reading through, has he been tested for felv/fiv?

You say he vomited bile last week, is he eating normal though?

Vomiting without reason is questionable, but once is not enough to alarm you either.

Again, and I would direct my focus a bit more towards his tummy, intestines.

His bloodwork is all good?

Agreed, forget the endless tests randomly searching for literally anything that can put anyone in dire straights with the costs, all you can do is watch for symptoms that may point in a more specific area, if he randomly vomits again, you might consider having an ultrasound done, but if nothing shows up, stopping there, but at least you will see that this area seems okay.

A few years back I lost a darling perma-foster named Stella, actually Stellaluna, she looked like a little bat at kittenhood

3 1/2 yrs old, stomach cancer. How odd is that?! Never happens, at least very rarely seen in a cat so young.

Just goes to show us, you never know what goes on in their little furry bods, but staying aware without overthinking or over-worrying is all we can really do.

He may live to be an old guy too, never know

chaucer · Sep 20, 2016

@catwoman707

I know they can retract them and Chaucer's do that when he is excited, but he's stopped retracting them when he isn't, which concerns me as it is something very new. Like you, I think there is something wrong with him. Yes, he's been tested for FeLV/FIV several times over the years, but twice in this year since I brought in an FIV + cat. His FeLV immunization is up-to-date too. His recent blood work of last week showed his lymphocytes were high. That's why the antibiotics. Steroid shot earlier had no effect on anything.

His eyes look a little better ,but still not his norm. He's eating a little better - must heat food in microwave for 5 seconds before he will eat it. 7 seconds if it has been refrigerated. This has been going on for several weeks now. He hasn't vomited again. His bladder and bowels empty. He's playing a lot now, so I think the antibiotic is helping. He runs when he sees the dropper in my hand now. I think my best bet is just wait-and-see if he gets better or worse over time. I hate that, but there isn't much more I can do. I agree that I don't think it was the kitten, but Chaucer and the other two have been happier without him here.

This morning he became extremely agitated after Henyretta was startled by the huge, growly non-stray cat that has plagued us for two years who jumped 6 or 7 feet up to the window ledge.The screen was the only barrier between a screaming, scared Henryetta and Gray Kitty. She jumped down and ran through the house, with a screaming, fluffed-up Chaucer behind her. He attacked Henyretta in a true fight which ended with me having to trap him in a bedroom until he calms down. At least he has the energy.

catwoman707 · Sep 20, 2016

Classic case of misdirected aggression is what that was about, not really intentional either as you probably know.

Reminds me of the time I stood at the door and banged on it a couple times to scare off fighting cats out front, with my Great Dane behind me, blocking her way, and while her and I were very close, she was so agitated by this, especially after banging the door a couple times that she bit me in the butt!

I'm currently going through a similar situation with my Krissy cat, who is my heart and soul, sort of forced to wait and see why she is losing weight lately due to a lessoned appetite than usual.

It's looming over me constantly, because I can't bare the thought of losing her someday, regardless of how immature that sounds! Fact of life, and while it will always be devastating for me, I will be accepting of this if she can live to be an old woman, early 20's would be good but at least her very late teens, over 18 anyway.......she is 14 1/2 now and young and healthy, but 2 yrs ago was diagnosed with IBD, no meds just diet change/restrictions and she is stable and shows no signs of issues, maybe a day or 2 of a flareup causing her to vomit, every 6 months or so which is common but it passes.

However I am also aware that IBD can very well become lymphoma too. Responds to meds at least, and usually will put it in to remission for years, but how will I know if that happens, I don't know. Not willing to do a biopsy either, but hoping she would act like her IBD was no longer controlled so I will know.

A senior cat losing her normal appetite causing weight loss is never good....

So at least I can relate to the anxiety of wait and see that you must have.

chaucer · Sep 23, 2016

catwoman707 said:
Classic case of misdirected aggression is what that was about, not really intentional either as you probably know.

Reminds me of the time I stood at the door and banged on it a couple times to scare off fighting cats out front, with my Great Dane behind me, blocking her way, and while her and I were very close, she was so agitated by this, especially after banging the door a couple times that she bit me in the butt!

I'm currently going through a similar situation with my Krissy cat, who is my heart and soul, sort of forced to wait and see why she is losing weight lately due to a lessoned appetite than usual.

It's looming over me constantly, because I can't bare the thought of losing her someday, regardless of how immature that sounds! Fact of life, and while it will always be devastating for me, I will be accepting of this if she can live to be an old woman, early 20's would be good but at least her very late teens, over 18 anyway.......she is 14 1/2 now and young and healthy, but 2 yrs ago was diagnosed with IBD, no meds just diet change/restrictions and she is stable and shows no signs of issues, maybe a day or 2 of a flareup causing her to vomit, every 6 months or so which is common but it passes.

However I am also aware that IBD can very well become lymphoma too. Responds to meds at least, and usually will put it in to remission for years, but how will I know if that happens, I don't know. Not willing to do a biopsy either, but hoping she would act like her IBD was no longer controlled so I will know.

A senior cat losing her normal appetite causing weight loss is never good....

So at least I can relate to the anxiety of wait and see that you must have.

Chaucer is much better. I don't know if it is the kitten being gone, the antibiotics working or a combination. His eyes look normal again. It's no wonder with Chaucer's occasional misdirected aggression that Henryetta hisses and growls at him and no longer feels especially comfortable with him. He's always been a little rough with her - after grooming her he tends to bite her and wrestle with her until she runs away. Orville doesn't do this. He just lies down next to her.

I would not want to be bitten by a Great Dane. I had a Chow once who missed his chew toy and got my inner thigh. He was a puppy but I still had a big bruise for a while.

Poor Krissy. It's awful when our pets are ill and we can't do much about it. It's not immature. Pets are family members, at least to me they are. They've been there for us too. My last two, a DLH black with big gold eyes (Ashley because she like to sit in the fireplace) and Sophie, a seal-point Himalayan rescue were 16 and 17.5 respectively when they passed. Both had kidney failure and it was awful to watch them lose to 4 pounds or so. Sophie had so much fur I hadn't realized how thin she really was. She had never been a "big" cat. Chaucer has colitis and cystitis attacks, so I'm always checking on him.

Cat's eyes look strange - third eyelid showing, but cat not visibly sick

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