No cat likes being restrained and seeing a large drop of water fall right into its eye. As a result, you may feel the need to go to the vet to give your cat eye drops. However, with patience and light restraint, administering eye drops can be done at home. It may take a few tries before the cat complies well, but the cat's eyes will be much healthier once the eye drops are successfully administered.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Holding the Cat
Step 1. Hold the cat over your thighs
How well you can hold the cat will play a big role in the success of administering eye drops. One way is to hold the cat on your thigh. When the cat is lying relaxed on your thigh, place one hand on the cat's body to restrain the movement. The cat's body length should lean against your abdomen.
- You can sit wherever is comfortable for you: sofa, chair, bed, etc.
- The arm holding the cat should be your non-dominant hand. For example, if you are left-handed, use your right hand to hold the cat.
- If you think the cat is going to scratch, wrap the cat in a towel until only the head is sticking out.
- If you want to sit on the floor but your attempts to hold the cat on your thigh fail miserably, try positioning yourself so that the cat is sandwiched between your knees and cannot escape.
Step 2. Place the cat on a table or high surface
It may be easier and more convenient to administer eye drops if they are done on a surface that is approximately waist-high. If the surface is a bit slippery, spread out a towel first so the cat doesn't slip. You can also wrap the cat in a towel.
It may take several tries to determine the best method
Step 3. Position the cat's head
In administering eye drops, you will need to hold the cat still with your “non-dominant” hand. Place the thumb of this hand on the side of the cat's jaw and the other fingers on the reverse side. Thus, the cat's head should be held firmly in your hand, which is under the cat's chin.
Tilt the cat's head up to make the eye drops easier to administer
Part 2 of 3: Giving Eye Drops
Step 1. Clean the cat's eyes
For eye drops to work effectively, your cat's eyes must be free of waste substances. If necessary, clean the cat's eyes by applying a small amount of sterile eye cleaning solution to a cotton swab and rubbing it around the cat's eyes.
Along with eye drops, your veterinarian should have prescribed an eye wash solution for you
Step 2. Open the cat's eyelids
Use the thumb of your non-dominant hand to pull the top lid of the cat's eye. Thus, a small pouch will appear that can be dripped with eye medicine.
Although practical, eye drops do not have to be dropped into the eye bags. The eye drops will spread throughout the cat's eyes. Therefore, you do not have to worry about the location of the drop in the cat's eye
Step 3. Position the tip of the dropper bottle over the cat's eye
Hold the tip of the medicine bottle about 2 cm above the cat's eye. The tip of the medicine bottle should not touch the cat's eyes. Not only will your cat's eyes be irritated, the tip of the dropper bottle will also be contaminated.
- If you wish, aim the tip of the dropper bottle into the eye socket your thumb is making.
- It might help if you rest the base of your dominant hand on the cat's head. This will allow you to better aim the drops and prevent the tip of the dropper bottle from accidentally touching the cat's eye.
- Place the bottle cap on a clean surface.
Step 4. Give eye drops
Squeeze the bottle and immediately apply the medication to the cat's eye according to the prescribed number of drops. Be careful not to drip more than prescribed.
- If both eyes need treatment, repeat the same procedure to put the medicine in the other eye.
- If your cat is restless and fussy, try returning when the cat has calmed down a bit. Do not force it, because the cat's eye can accidentally touch the tip of the eye drop bottle.
Part 3 of 3: Knowing What to Do After Giving Eye Drops
Step 1. Calm your cat
Even if you are calm when you are given eye medication, your cat may not want to stay still after the eye medication is given. In fact, your cat will start wanting to rub his eyes. The cat should be gently restrained until the eye medication is absorbed into the cat's eye.
Step 2. Do not massage the cat's eyes
You may think that eye drops will spread more easily if you massage your cat's eyes. However, eye drops can spread quickly on their own. Your cat may enjoy an eye massage after medication, but from a medical point of view, this is not necessary.
Step 3. Give the cat a treat
A great way to distract your cat after eye drops is to use a nice treat. Your cat will love a tasty treat, such as a small piece of tuna, after being patient with the eye drops. You can also time the medication close to mealtime so that the cat can be rewarded with a meal after the eye has been treated.
Cats may need to be treated several times a day, so use treats wisely. Do not let the cat full of snacks every time he is given eye drops
Step 4. Watch for signs of discomfort in the cat
Usually, eye drops are uncomfortable for cats. Often, the cat will blink a lot after the eye drops. However, if the medication bothers you, the cat will rub its eyes with its paws or even with the floor. Call your veterinarian if your cat is very bothered by the eye drops given.
Tips
- Administering eye drops can be quite challenging. Keep trying
- Seek advice from your veterinarian if your cat is very resistant to treatment.
- Consider asking a friend to hold the cat or apply eye drops.
- Eye disorders tend to heal quickly. Even if signs of recovery are visible, continue administering eye medication according to your veterinarian's instructions.
