Neonatal Ophthalmia in Kittens: What You Need to Know

Newborn kittens are adorable, but they’re also very delicate — especially their eyes! Neonatal ophthalmia is an infection that affects kittens' eyes, usually before they even open them (between 1–2 weeks old).

The most common cause? Those tiny, razor-sharp kitten claws! Kittens often accidentally scratch each other’s eyes while kneading, crawling, and wrestling in the nest. This allows normal skin bacteria (called commensals) to sneak into the delicate eye tissue and cause infection. Signs to watch for include swollen, red, or crusty eyelids, yellow or green discharge, or a kitten struggling to open their eyes.

⚠️ Important: If you notice these symptoms, gently clean the eyelids with a warm, damp cloth. You can often treat mild cases at home by sourcing antibiotic eye drops from a pharmacy and applying them twice daily to clear the infection.

Top tip: Warm the drops to body temperature before applying for a more comfortable experience!

However, if the infection doesn’t improve quickly or looks severe, it’s best to see a vet. Left untreated, neonatal ophthalmia can lead to serious complications like entropion (where the eyelid turns inward), which may require corrective eyelid surgery later on. 😿

Keeping tiny claws trimmed and monitoring closely during the first few weeks is the best way to protect those little eyes!

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Kitten with entropion who had chronic neonatal opthalmia not responding to treatment.

Post op, entropion corrected, this was done at the time of speying for an extra $100 for the extra time taken.

A few weeks later - apologies for not having an "After" photo, after a few months you couldnt even tell, so a great result.

🐱💛 Healthy eyes = healthy, thriving kittens!

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