Today my oldest cat has developed gunk in her eyes that looks like clear jelly. I know humans get this too, my Nan used to say 'you got a draught in it', and I don't know if that has happened to Emily, but I am hoping that experienced cat owners can let me know the best thing to do.

I am pretty broke at the minute and would like to avoid the vets if possible (I just paid for antibiotics for her ear in December), I'm hoping it's the kind of thing that will clear up by itself, but if anyone thinks otherwise please let me know, I'm not really a specialist on cats.

Conjunctivitis. You'll be next.

Bathing the eye with cold tea has always worked with both our cats and dogs, so I would try that for maybe a day or two (whenever we have done, the eyes have been better the next day), and if there is no improvement that she should see the vet, but I can't recommend tea highly enough, and would always try it first.

I take it she's not a persian and this isn't the usual red excretion they tend to get? Other than that as others have said, just bathe the eyes x

Why not ring your vet surgery and ask their advice. The vet nurses are generally very helpful and will be able to advise if you can treat at home (and how) or whether the vet needs to see her.

Def recommend tea. I've always used tea bags on my eyes- slightly warm and taken out of the cup before milk and sugar are added. Also used them on our elderly pony- always sorts them out.

As above I'd try it for a day and see- otherwise think it may be a vet visit.

OK thank you, she still has what looks like a layer of clear jelly coming in from the tear duct side. She is a tortoiseshell tabby, about 7-8 years old. I hoped to avoid eye bathing as I know my arms will get shredded in the process but I'll give it a go If that doesn't help I'll call our vets practise tomorrow.

Is she managing to open her eye fully? eye infections tend to make them squint or make the eyelid slightly droop down so the eye appears smaller than the normal one. My cat just had Conjunctivitis - i dont know if its usual to get in both eyes but he had it in one eye and he needed drops. Also since about 8/9 years old he has often got runny eyes, sometimes clear liquid and sometimes coloured jelly bits which collect in the corners so its not necessariy something wrong just something that might have started happening more as she gets older, also my cat doesnt bother to wash much anymore so it became more noticable

I can relate to that! If I tried that move on my cat, she'd have my arm off closely followed by my face!

Hopefully when you speak to the vet they will give you some good advice. Of course, it might not be the same thing but my cat suffers from something similar. I spoke to a vet who put it down to old age (she's a whopping 17!). I know that if she was uncomfortable she would let me know and that's when you start to worry. You might find it distressing and want to wipe the eye but my advice is leave well alone. I was constantly wiping my cats eye and it got worse. As soon as I left her alone to nurse it herself, it cleared up instantly and she was happier not having a tissue constantly shoved in her face! It comes back regularly in cold weather so the draught in the eye story from your Nan might be spot on!

Hope Emily is better soon and it relieves any worries you have. Being a cat owner can be very stressful at times! Wouldn't be without my little cutie though.

I bathe my cats eyes with a drop of optrex and some cooled boiled water -just a tiny bit and use a make up pad to wipe the eyes with .
Hope they are better soon.