What Does It Mean When a Cat is Crying?
Cat people want to know everything there is to know about their feline companions.
Cat people want to know everything they can about their feline companions. The famous photo of the mourning cat is one of the internet’s most-viewed oddities. Nighttime cat wailing is disturbing, and waking up to a screaming cat is much more unsettling. Some cat owners have complained that it’s upsetting to come home to a sobbing cat out of the blue. If that’s not the case, then why do cats cry? What is it?
Is A Cat Crying to Express Their Feelings?
It’s easy to start seeing similarities between your cat and yourself after living with them for a while and attributing human actions and expressions to them. Crying cats are included in the ‘humanising’ trend. Tears in a cat’s eyes make us think the animal is experiencing deep emotion. But science provides explanations that go counter to that.
It seems cats don’t have the same emotional range as people. A cat will not show its emotions through its eyes, not even when it is very sad. It’s best to call the vet if you notice tears in your cat’s eyes, as there is likely a medical problem at play.
Finally, as usual, if your cat is experiencing health issues, you should document them with photos or videos and take them to a veterinarian. The problem can be identified by your veterinarian. Your cat will have a full physical examination, and your doctor will also ask you about any recent or significant life changes that may have played a role. The veterinarian would also inquire about any preexisting conditions.
Getting a radiograph of your cat’s face might help make sure there are no cysts or lesions in the vicinity of his or her eyes or sinuses. Your cat may also receive an injection of a contrast substance to help distinguish between the various minute components of its facial structure. If the initial physical exam and radiograph fail to yield a diagnosis, we move on to the next step, the CT scan.
Swabs from your cat’s sinuses and eyes may be sent off to the lab for further analysis (sampling cultures) if your vet detects a bacterial illness. If none of these measures prove fruitful, the next option is to conduct a surgical investigation of the affected areas. It may be necessary for your veterinarian to do a dissection in order to view everything.
Why Is My Cat Crying?
If a cat is sad or angry, it will not cry like a person would. To express distress, cats will instead make a loud meowing sound. Cats meow when they are harmed, but they don’t cry. Then, why do certain felines weep? Multiple hypotheses can be entertained.
Most cases of cat crying can be traced back to an allergic reaction. It’s possible that your cat has gotten some small debris in its eyes, and that its eyes are reacting to get rid of the material so that it doesn’t cause any harm to the cat’s sensitive eyes. If the debris isn’t removed, you may experience recurrent episodes of wet eyes for days.
Why Is My Cat Crying with Tears?
Although cats cannot “weep” in the same manner that humans can, they do shed some tears. It’s crucial that we investigate the potential causes of the tears, but it’s also necessary to keep in mind that there are underlying reasons for constant crying.
The medical term for this so-called crying is epiphora. Epiphora is the condition in which your cat’s tears run freely down its face instead of staying on its eyelids. Tear duct congestion, also known as distichiasis, is possible. Congestion and excessive tear production can cause epiphora in a cat’s upper and lower eyelids.
In addition to the aforementioned symptoms, epiphora can also cause:
Eyelid sagging
Developing corneal ulcers
Bleeding eyes
Redness and irritation of the eyes
Infection of the eyes
Overuse of sunglasses
Constantly watering eyes can also be a symptom of a congenital abnormality of the eye or eye socket in a newborn cat. Some cats, for instance, have bigger tear ducts to accommodate their abnormally huge eyes. Facial nerve paralysis or injury can produce watery eyes in cats, both at birth and later in life. Cats can experience increased tear production due to eyelid scarring from previous medical issues or physical altercations.
Unfortunately, watery eyes can also be an indication of squamous cell carcinoma (cancer). To a greater extent, this problem is seen in white cats because their eyelid margins lack pigmentation.
Are They Crying or Do We Misunderstand Them?
Cats with moist eyes aren’t crying. As cat lovers, we misunderstand this because we imagine that our feline friends have some of our human characteristics. If you’ve noticed that your cat has had watery eyes for longer than two days, you should definitely make an appointment with the doctor. All symptoms should be watched for at least two days. Stop wondering what’s wrong with your cat and find out for sure from the vet.
Your cat could be experiencing any of the following conditions:
Allergy rhinitis. When a cat develops an allergy, the tear ducts are affected, just like they are when humans have asthma or allergies because to the cat’s shed coat. Inflammation develops here since that’s where your tears should be.
Watery eyes can also be caused by facial fractures sustained in accidents or fights.
A cat’s eyes are quite sensitive, and they can easily be irritated by strange objects. Keep in mind that several foreign bodies can have the same results. Seeds, sand, and even tiny parasites might be considered foreign entities.
The third eyelid, along with the nasal cavity, the primary eyelids, and the eye itself, are all potential sites for tumour development in cats. Your cat may experience watery eyes if there is inflammation or an infection in the area.