Strabismus in cats

Author: Laura McKinney
Date Of Creation: 7 August 2021
Update Date: 1 November 2024
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Cat with strabismus
Video: Cat with strabismus

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Some cats can suffer from squint, this is an unusual condition that often affects Siamese cats, but also affects mutts and other breeds.

This anomaly does not affect the cat's good vision, but it can be a palpable example of improper animal breeding. It is a warning to the owner, as future litters may suffer more serious injuries and, therefore, crossing a cross-eyed cat should be avoided.

Continue reading this PeritoAnimal article to discover the main causes and treatment of squint in cats.

Types of strabismus

In the feline world, strabismus is not so common. However, among Siamese cats, the problem is hereditary, so there are more reports of cross-eyed cats of this breed. Before talking about what can cause strabismus in cats, it is important to know that there are four basic types of strabismus, although they can be combined:


  • esotropia
  • exotropy
  • hypertrophy
  • hypotropy

The cross-eyed cat, popularly known as the cross-eyed cat, must be seen by a veterinarian, as he is the one who will assess whether this strabismus affects the correct vision of the cat or whether the furry one can have a normal life with.

Cats affected by strabismus from birth usually do not have vision problems. However, if a cat with normal vision suffers from an episode of strabismus, it is necessary to take the cat to the vet for evaluation.

In this other article, you'll find out what cataracts are like in cats - symptoms and treatment.

Causes of strabismus in cats

congenital strabismus

Congenital strabismus is when strabismus it's by birth, product of a deficient genealogical line. It is the most common cause of strabismus in cats and does not usually cause problems greater than simply aesthetic. That is, in many cases, a cross-eyed cat can see normally.


This form of strabismus can occur in all breeds of cats, but among Siamese cats it usually occurs in greater volume.

abnormal optic nerve

An alteration or malformation in the cat's optic nerve may be the cause of his strabismus. If the malformation is congenital, it is not very worrying.

If the anomaly is acquired (the cat had normal eyesight), and the cat suddenly acquires a squint, you should immediately take him to the veterinarian.

One inflammation, infection or trauma in the optic nerve may be the cause of the cat's sudden strabismus. The veterinarian will diagnose the cause and recommend the most appropriate solution.


In this PeritoAnimal article, we explain to you how to take care of a blind cat.

extraocular muscles

Extraocular muscles are sometimes the cause of strabismus in cats. THE congenital alteration or malformation of these muscles is not serious, since cross-eyed cats that are born like this can lead a totally normal life.

As with the optic nerve, if there is an injury or disease in the feline's extraocular muscles, suddenly some type of strabismus occurs, the feline must be taken immediately to the veterinarian to be examined and treated. Cat surgery may be necessary - although therapy is often able to resolve this type of cross-eyed cat problem.

How do I know what kind of strabismus my cat has?

The most common position of the eyes in cats affected by congenital strabismus is the convergent squint (esotropia). It happens when both eyes converge towards the center.

When the eyes converge towards the outside, it is called divergent strabismus (exotropy). Pug dogs tend to have this type of squint.

O dorsal strabismus (hypertropia) is when one eye or both tend to be located upwards, partially hiding the iris under the upper eyelid.

O vertical squint (hypotropy) is when one eye, or both, is permanently turned downward.

Treatment for a Cross-eyed Cat

In general, if the cross-eyed cat is in good health, the veterinarian will not advise us on any treatment. Although aesthetically it may seem worrisome, cats who suffer from strabismus can follow a totally normal life and happy.

The most serious cases, that is, those that happen because of an acquired cause or that cannot follow a natural rhythm of life, must undergo a surgical treatment for a better quality of life. The specialist will determine if your particular cat's case needs treatment and what steps you can take.

cross-eyed cat Belarus

And since we're talking about cross-eyed cats, we couldn't stop talking about the most famous cross-eyed cat on the internet, Belarus. Adopted in 2018 in San Francisco, United States, this cute kitten with yellow eyes and convergent squint won the world with her cuteness.

The fame started when his tutor decided to create an Instagram profile for the feline (@my_boy_belarus). The cross-eyed cat quickly won everyone over with its playful poses and captivating beauty. Until the last update of this article, in November 2020, the Belarus cat had more than 347,000 followers on the social network.

Due to international recognition, a NGO invited Belarus to help other animals. By giving his image to an NGO campaign at the beginning of 2020, in a few weeks the equivalent of R$ 50 thousand reais was collected.

And now that you know all about strabismus in cats and the Belarus cross-eyed cat, you can find out how cats see in this other article.

This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Strabismus in cats, we recommend that you enter our Other health problems section.