Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

The litter tray

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

Hay fever?

7 replies

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 31/03/2020 20:29

Over the last couple of weeks I have noticed my cat has slightly watery eyes (not red or swollen, and she’s not rubbing them), and has been doing the odd sneeze. She’s absolutely fine otherwise, eating greedily, begging for treats, racing around outside. Her booster was in February, so all up to date. My DP has suggested she could have hay fever or some sort of pollen allergy, which actually could make sense - usually she’s inside all day when we’re at work, but because we’re at home she has slaves to let her in and out and is making the most of it. We have a big garden, and our street has lots of trees which are starting to blossom, although she never goes out the front.

Is this a thing? Should I ring the vet? She is pure white, so the watery eyes are probably more noticeable than in a dark cat, and she’s quite happy for me to wash her face with a damp flannel. No runny nose.

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 31/03/2020 21:26

Yes. I think Snorg has it. She's prone to conjunctivitis and a bungee up Nose anyway. But particularly worse in the spring. 1/4 tablet of Piriton does the trick.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 31/03/2020 21:36

Thanks so much for replying. Her eyes don’t look at all sore or inflamed, and there’s no gunk, just a bit “weepy” with tears - and not all of the time - so I am certain there is no infection like conjunctivitis. Good to know cat hay fever is a thing - I thought my DP was making it up when he first said it!

OP posts:
Allergictoironing · 01/04/2020 09:40

I had a horse many years ago who had an allergy to Timothy Grass - a type of hay, so technically she had hayfever. We'd just started a new batch of hay and came up to find her whole face swollen up - she looked like a hippo!

The vet apologised for laughing when he saw her, and a couple of Piriton saw her straight, but we had to swap out the entire barn of hay.

Toddlerteaplease · 01/04/2020 10:58

Magic gets conjunctivitis all the tome and there is a definite difference!

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 01/04/2020 18:16

allergic I shouldn’t laugh, but that made me giggle - a horse allergic to hay. Bless her!

toddler if there is any actual discharge or mucus I will ring the vet. I am keeping a close eye on her. I think I am probably hyper aware of the sneezing because usually I would be at work all day - and other than weekends she would be stuck indoors with no pollen from 8 - 5ish. Who knows, maybe she always has a daily sneeze! I feel reassured that her annual check and jabs were so recently too.

OP posts:
Allergictoironing · 01/04/2020 22:04

I also meant to say that Boycat can have slightly runny eyes; I mentioned it to the vet at his MoT a few weeks ago and he couldn't find anything wrong. Doesn't trouble him, I just make sure that I clean any crust out of the corner of his eyes regularly.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 01/04/2020 22:47

allergic we adopted her direct from a family three years ago who told us she often gets “mucky eyes” and their vet said it was fine. I have scrolled back through a load of old photos of those three years, and sure enough, she does, this is not new. DP reminded me earlier that I was constantly at her with a flannel this time last year! I think I just have too much time on my hands and am worrying about every little thing

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page