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Conference misery::feline_v1

Title:Meower Power is Valuing Differences
Notice:FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY
Moderator:MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO
Created:Sun Feb 09 1986
Last Modified:Tue Jan 11 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5089
Total number of notes:60366

4782.0. "Elevated Third Eyelid?" by XCUSME::KENDRICK () Thu Jul 11 1991 13:21

    Two weeks ago I adopted a grey Tiger kitten from the Humane Society. 
    Mike visited the vet for his second round of vaccines, check-up, etc. 
    Everything was fine.
    
    After he was with us for about a week and a half, I noticed that his
    third eyelid was slightly elevated, more so when he was just waking up
    or settling down for a snooze, but elevated just the same when his eyes
    were open.  Sometimes it was elevated up to the bottom of the iris, so
    needless to say it was noticeable.  He had no other symptoms, no watery
    eyes, discharge, rubbing the eyes, no sniffles, nothing.  He was frisky
    as ever and ate like a pig.  But still he looked pretty spooky, so I
    called the vet.
    
    The vet asked me if he also had soft stools.  Well, as a matter of fact
    he did - not diarrhea, but not logs like normal.  She told me that it
    is fairly common in young kittens (Mike is now 9 weeks) for them to
    have elevated third eyelids in both eyes accompanied by soft stools. 
    They don't know what it is but they outgrow it.  She said to only bring
    him in if he began other symptoms or showed lack of appetite or slowed
    down.
    
    I had never heard of this or seen it in my other three cats and
    everyone I've talked to never heard of this.  So, I thought I would
    share it with all of you and ask for input as to if you know anything
    about it or if your kitties have experienced it.
    
    I'm gland there's nothing wrong with him but it's weird having a cat
    that looks like he just stepped out of a Stephen King novel 8^)
    
    Comments?
    
    Terry, Hoover, Nymets, Sid & Mike
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
4782.1ASABET::HASTINGSThu Jul 11 1991 14:119
    When the third lid shows, it could mean your cat isn't feeling well.  
    If we notice it on one of our cats, off to the vet we go.  The cat
    could have a headache, a temperature, a cold or virus, etc.  It's
    definitely a warning signal.  The first time one of my cats showed her
    third lid, I thought she was going blind!  Turns out she was a very
    sick kitty, but after a little medication and lots of TLC, she
    recovered.  
    
    Diane
4782.2SANFAN::FOSSATJUThu Jul 11 1991 17:1410
    I'd definitely monitor it carefully.  When one of mine had the third
    eyelid appear it turned out to be a virus which was tough to diagnose -
    unfortunately one of my other cats came down with it.  Mine had soft
    stools as well which later developed into a full blown out case of the
    runs.  My other cat was totally resisant to the thing.  The vet
    believed that my little one was born with it as his stools were never
    quite right and just incubated it until he was about a year old. After
    a week or so on med he totally recovered (and so did the other one).
    
    Giudi
4782.3WILLEE::MERRITTFri Jul 12 1991 09:5110
    When we took Dewey in...both his third eyelids were showing up to
    the Iris.  Well off to the vet he went...and he had worms, a virus,
    was undernourished, diaherea,  and had a very high temperture.    
    After alot of medicine, good food,  and alot of love....he is doing fine now.
    
    I would watch your baby very carefully.....it is usually a sign
    that something is wrong.
    
    Sandy
4782.4CRUISE::NDCPutiput Scottish Folds DTN:297-2313Tue Jul 23 1991 09:155
    The third eyelid will also show if the cat is just tired.  Its 
    when you see it consistently that you worry.  
    
    It might not hurt to take his temp (easier said than done ;^)
    Normal is 100.4 - 102.4.
4782.5It's Nothing SeriousXCUSME::KENDRICKTue Jul 23 1991 12:4216
    Thanks for your input.  This past Friday I noticed Mike had progressed
    to having diarrhea, so even though he was still acting and eating okay
    I took him to see his regular vet who fortunately had had a
    cancellation.  Mike's temperature was normal and the rest of his exam
    was benign except his bowels "felt thick".  His stool specimen was
    negative.  So he's on the usual remedy - chicken baby food (he loves
    it) and Tender Vittles (Mom, what's this crap?), plus Flagyl once a day
    for ten days.  The litterbox is starting to look normal again.
    
    Thanks for you input.  By the way, the vet said the elevated eyelid
    usually means a sick cat but said, as did Nancy, that it will show when
    they're tired.  With Mike it's mostly when he's just waking up or
    settling down for a snooze. 
    
    Terry + 4