I was looking at my dozing cat, and as he slowly closed his eyes, I could see his third eyelid slide over as the eyes closed. I was wondering if anybody knows if the third eyelid always closes when the eyes are shut, and can the cat extend the third eyelid at will?
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nictitating membrane (3rd eyelid)
- Thread starter vince
- Start Date
My vet once said that the third eyelid is passive but that in some circumstances the cat may have some control over it. However, those circumstances were irritation or injury to the eye, or another condition which might have arisen. If you continue to see it, I would check with the vet.
Oh wow I only thought birds had those.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #4
I don't think it's any problem. As he was nodding off and slowly closing his eyes, I saw it slide over just as the eye was a little slit before the eyelid closed completely. He seems to be fine.
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So when cats sleep and their third eyelid slides across their eye, I think it’s actually because the muscles behind their eyeball are retracting the eye into the socket, which in turn passively pulls the third eyelid across. Cats who are very dehydrated can have “sunken” looking eyes which can also lead to the third eyelid showing, since again the eyeballs are retracted farther than normal.
