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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Third eyelid showing - stress?

11 replies

rainydaygrey · 23/10/2015 09:55

I have 2 cats, aged 5 months and 8 years. The 5-monther is of course a little menace, getting into everything and winding up my older cat every chance he gets. We've had him for 5 weeks now.

Things seemed to be more or less OK between the two cats until last weekend when they really started having spats (older cat fed up). On Monday or Tuesday I noticed that older cat had his third eyelid showing. I put it down to stress and didn't want to rush him to the vet as extra stress would just make it worse IYSWIM. However it's now Friday morning and he's no better, so I've made an appointment for this afternoon.

Posting for opinions/experiences with third eyelid or introducing a new cat. Older cat is very timid and has been a bit nervous around the new kitten but generally accepting, until this past weekend. Kitten is oblivious and continues to playfully stalk/attack older cat. I try to keep this to a minimum of course.

Or is the presence of the new cat a red herring and older cat is feeling under the weather, hence being quick to anger when the kitten jumps on him?

Will see what the vet says but it's always good to hear others' views as the vet can't read the cat's mind, as far as I'm aware anyway!

My poor older boy, he is clearly feeling a bit miserable.

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FiveHoursSleep · 23/10/2015 10:00

Is the third eyelid showing in just one eye, or in both? If it's just one, then it's likely that that eye has been injured- perhaps from fighting with the younger cat. It's good you are taking your cat to the vet today.

rainydaygrey · 23/10/2015 11:55

Sorry I missed an S there didn't I. It's both eyes, so I don't think it's an actual eye injury. Could be an infection of course.

Funnily enough, when I went into the other room just now the two cats were sitting very relaxed about 2 feet from each other. So my older boy doesn't seem to have any real problem with the kitten, he's just fed up with being ambushed and jumped on I assume.

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GiddyOnZackHunt · 23/10/2015 11:59

Mine used to get it when they were under the weather. An injury or illness etc.

rainydaygrey · 23/10/2015 12:07

Yes I'm starting to think that he's sick Giddy, I don't think it's new kitten stress after all.

Another 2 hours and I'll see what the vet has to charge me say.

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MrsDeVere · 23/10/2015 12:08

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

rainydaygrey · 23/10/2015 13:05

He seems in general OK, and eating and drinking as per usual, but his nose is dry and I think his ears are warmer than usual.

Not really hiding away, but now I'm convinced that he's ill and not just stressed. Poor boy.

He has had urinary issues twice before (not for a long time though), I have been keeping an eye on him and I don't think it's that - would have taken him to the vet right away if that had been the case. However it seems the most likely problem.

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rainydaygrey · 23/10/2015 15:23

The vet thinks it's a virus, he has had an injection and has some painkillers for the coming days. Nothing too serious hopefully, but just feeling pretty rubbish.

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MrsDeVere · 23/10/2015 16:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FiveHoursSleep · 23/10/2015 18:00

Has he been treated for tapeworms? Mostly these settle down in 6-8 weeks, if not before, but you get the odd one that improves more quickly with worming.

GiddyOnZackHunt · 23/10/2015 18:40

Hope he's better soon!

rainydaygrey · 23/10/2015 19:11

I wormed the cats yesterday funnily enough.

He seems a bit happier this evening, thankfully Smile

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