Mycoplasma in Cats: Symptoms and Home Test

Mycoplasma in Cats: Symptoms, Risks and How to Test at Home

Your cat has been squinting from one eye for a few days. There is a slight discharge – watery at first, now a little thicker. She eats, but not with her usual enthusiasm. The vet is booked for three days from now, and you are trying to figure out what you are dealing with.

Mycoplasma felis is one of the most common bacterial causes of feline eye infections – and unlike some cat illnesses, it can be identified with a home test before you even reach the clinic. Here is what you need to know.

What Is Mycoplasma felis?

Mycoplasma felis is a bacterium that primarily infects the conjunctiva – the thin membrane lining the inner surface of a cat’s eyelids. It is one of the organisms responsible for feline conjunctivitis, an extremely common condition in cats of all ages.

Unlike viruses such as feline herpesvirus, Mycoplasma felis is a bacterium with no cell wall. This makes it naturally resistant to certain classes of antibiotics. It responds well to others, which is why identifying the correct cause of your cat’s eye infection matters for treatment – guessing wrong means weeks of ineffective medication.

Mycoplasma felis is also found in some cats’ respiratory tracts and has been linked to pneumonia-like symptoms in cats already weakened by other infections. In most healthy cats, however, it primarily causes eye problems.

Step 1: Recognise the Symptoms

Symptoms of Mycoplasma felis infection typically include:

• Conjunctivitis – red, swollen inner eyelids
• Excessive blinking or squinting (called blepharospasm)
• Eye discharge that starts watery and progresses to mucopurulent (thick, yellowish-green)
• One or both eyes affected (often starts unilaterally and spreads)
• Mild lethargy or reduced appetite in some cats
• Occasional mild upper respiratory symptoms (sneezing, nasal discharge)

These symptoms overlap significantly with other feline upper respiratory infections, particularly feline herpesvirus and calicivirus. Many cats carry more than one pathogen at once. This is why testing for the specific organism is more useful than relying on symptoms alone.

Step 2: Understand How It Spreads

Mycoplasma felis spreads through direct contact – eye secretions, nasal discharge, or shared items such as food bowls, bedding, and grooming tools. Multi-cat households and environments like shelters or catteries carry higher transmission risk.

The incubation period is typically 3 to 10 days after exposure. Cats that recover from Mycoplasma felis infection can remain carriers, meaning they may shed the bacterium without showing active symptoms. Stress commonly triggers a relapse in carrier cats.

Step 3: Test at Home to Confirm the Cause

Rather than waiting several days for a vet appointment while your cat’s symptoms worsen, you can use a Mycoplasma felis Antigen Test at home to detect whether the bacterium is present. The test works using a small sample taken from the eye area and delivers a result in minutes.

This lets you:

• Confirm or rule out Mycoplasma felis as the cause before your vet visit
• Give your vet useful diagnostic information when you arrive
• Identify whether your other cats may need testing if this is a multi-cat household

If your cat tests positive for Mycoplasma felis, this information will guide treatment choices. Tetracyclines (such as doxycycline) and fluoroquinolones are effective against Mycoplasma felis. Treatments that work well against viruses – such as topical antivirals used for herpesvirus – will not help if Mycoplasma is the actual problem.

Step 4: Support Your Cat During Recovery

While waiting for veterinary treatment or while treatment is underway:

• Keep the eye area clean by gently wiping discharge with a damp, warm cloth. Use a fresh cloth for each eye to avoid cross-contamination.
• Separate the infected cat from other cats in the household until testing and treatment are complete.
• Wash any shared items – bowls, bedding, toys – thoroughly with hot water.
• Reduce stressors where possible. Stress suppresses immune function and can extend recovery time.

Step 5: Follow Up and Prevent Recurrence

Mycoplasma felis infections usually respond well to appropriate antibiotic treatment within 2 to 4 weeks. Some cats with chronic or recurrent infections may need longer courses or repeated treatment during stress-related flare-ups.

Prevention focuses on:

• Keeping new cats isolated for 2 weeks before introducing them to resident cats
• Vaccinating against herpesvirus and calicivirus (both common co-infections)
• Maintaining good hygiene in multi-cat environments
• Testing symptomatic cats promptly rather than waiting for full disease progression

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mycoplasma felis contagious to humans?

Current evidence suggests Mycoplasma felis does not infect humans. It is considered species-specific. However, basic hygiene – washing your hands after handling a sick cat and avoiding touching your own eyes – is always sensible.

Can Mycoplasma felis go away without treatment?

Mild cases in otherwise healthy adult cats sometimes improve on their own. However, untreated infections can become chronic, recur during periods of stress, or spread to other cats. Antibiotic treatment is the recommended approach for confirmed cases.

My cat had this before – can it come back?

Yes. Cats that recover may remain carriers of Mycoplasma felis and experience relapses under stress – changes in household, new pets, illness, or even a change in routine. Testing at the first sign of symptoms gives you a head start on treatment.

Is the eye discharge always yellow-green?

Not initially. Early infections often produce watery, clear discharge. As the infection progresses and white blood cells accumulate at the site, discharge becomes thicker and may turn yellow or greenish. By the time discharge is visibly purulent, the infection has typically been present for several days.

Should I test all my cats if one is positive?

Yes. If one cat in a multi-cat household tests positive, others may be infected without showing obvious symptoms yet. Testing each cat separately lets you treat all affected animals simultaneously, reducing the risk of ongoing transmission.

Can I use a dog eye drop or human antibiotic on my cat’s eye?

No. Never use antibiotics intended for dogs or humans on cats without veterinary guidance. Some compounds that are safe for dogs – particularly certain fluorinated products and many essential oils – are toxic to cats. Always use products prescribed or approved specifically for feline use.