Eye Health: Cleaning Tear Stains and Preventing Infections#

If you have a white, cream, or silver Maine Coon, you know the struggle. You look at their beautiful, wild face, and all you see are two rusty-brown streaks running down their nose.

“Eye boogers” are a fact of life for many cats, but for Maine Coons, eye health requires specific attention. Their large, slightly oblique eyes and heavy brow structure can sometimes predispose them to issues. Plus, that magnificent ruff acts like a bib, catching every drop of discharge.

Atticus (my Red Tabby) is lucky; his tears blend in. But Penelope is a Brown Patch Tabby with a white chin, and keeping that white fur pristine is a weekly battle.

Here is why Maine Coon eyes run, when to worry, and how to safely clean those stubborn stains without irritating the sensitive skin.

Why Do Their Eyes Run? (Epiphora)#

The technical term for excessive tearing is Epiphora. In Maine Coons, this usually happens for three reasons:

1. Blocked Tear Ducts: Tears are supposed to drain into the nose (which is why your nose runs when you cry). If the ducts are too narrow or blocked, the tears spill over onto the face.
2. Allergies: Just like us, Maine Coons can get hay fever. Dust from clay litter is a major culprit.
3. Structure: Some lines of Maine Coons are bred with deeper-set eyes. If the fur around the eyes is too long, it can wick moisture out onto the face.

The “Red” Stain Mystery: Why is the stain red or brown? It is not blood. It is a pigment called Porphyrin, found in tears and saliva. When porphyrin containing tears sit on fur and are exposed to oxygen, they oxidize and turn rusty brown.

When to Call the Vet: Entropion#

Before you start cleaning, you need to rule out Entropion.

This is a genetic condition fairly common in Maine Coons where the eyelid rolls inward. The eyelashes rub against the eyeball (cornea) with every blink.

Signs of Entropion:

• Squinting or holding one eye shut.
• Excessive, thick mucus (yellow/green) rather than clear tears.
• Cloudiness on the surface of the eye.

If you see this, stop reading and go to the vet. This is painful and requires surgery to fix. No amount of wiping will cure it.

The Cleaning Protocol#

If your cat is healthy and just has “weepy eyes,” you need a routine. Dried eye gunk is hard and crusty. If you try to pick it off dry, you will pull the fur and hurt the cat.

Step 1: Soften the Debris Use a warm, damp cotton ball or a soft washcloth. Hold it gently against the eye for 10-15 seconds. This softens the crust.

Step 2: The “Wipe Away” Gently wipe away from the eye, down the nose. Do not wipe across the eyeball.

Step 3: The Stain Remover (For White Cats) Water removes the gunk, but not the stain. You need a dedicated tear stain remover.

• Commercial Wipes: Look for products containing Boric Acid or Colloidal Silver. These are safe antiseptics that fight the bacteria/yeast that darken the stain.
• Avoid: Never use peroxide, bleach, or makeup remover near a cat’s eyes.

Amelia’s Tip: I use a specialized “eye comb” (a tiny plastic comb with tightly spaced metal teeth) to gently comb out the softened gunk from the fur under the eye. It works better than a cloth for getting the deep debris.

Prevention: The Environment#

Sometimes, the fix isn’t grooming; it’s housekeeping.

• Switch Litter: Dusty clay litter is a top cause of chronic eye irritation. Switch to a low-dust pine, paper, or grass seed litter.
• Air Purifiers: Maine Coons live close to the floor where dust settles. An air purifier can reduce the allergens that cause the tearing.
• Trim the Face: If your cat has very long “eyebrows” or cheek fur that curls into their eyes, use blunt-nosed scissors (carefully!) to trim the offending hairs.

Conclusion#

Clear, bright eyes are a sign of a healthy cat. While a little morning “sleep” in the corner of the eye is normal, constant tearing is not. Keep them clean, watch for squinting, and maybe switch your litter. Your cat’s face is their fortune—keep it spotless.

Resources & Further Reading#

• Veterinary Ophthalmology. (2021). Feline Entropion: Diagnosis and Surgical Management.
• Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. (2023). Feline Upper Respiratory Infection (Eye Discharge).