Rascal: The Cat Who Tried to Pirate His Own Eyeball.
- alison.
- Sep 16
- 2 min read
Blog Rascals eye, the blog.
Meet Rascal, my 17-year-old, second-oldest, & possibly my sweetest cat (confirmed by the vet, not just biased old-man-cat propaganda). Recently, I noticed something was off with his eye. His third eyelid was creeping out like it was auditioning for a horror film, & his right pupil was half the size of the left.
Naturally, I did what any responsible human does: full-scale panic, frantic Googling, & then dragging him to the vet.
Diagnosis? Horner’s Syndrome.
What the f is Horner’s Syndrome?
Horner’s Syndrome is basically when your cat’s nervous system decides to play a practical joke on their face. It shows up as:
A droopy eyelid (instant emo look).
A sunken eye (creepy chic).
A constricted pupil (tiny flashlight mode).
That third eyelid making a surprise cameo (think: horror movie jump scare).
It looks dramatic, but the real story is buried deep in the nervous system.
The Science-y Part (Stay With Me)
Cats (like Rascal, & their humans with anxiety disorders) have an autonomic nervous system. That’s the behind-the-scenes wiring that keeps your body functioning while you’re busy doomscrolling or stress-snacking.
Two branches run the show:
Sympathetic Nervous System ("Fight or Flight") – the body’s panic button. It dilates pupils, keeps eyes wide open, & preps you to either bolt from danger or lie awake replaying every awkward conversation you’ve ever had.
Parasympathetic Nervous System ("Rest & Digest") – the “it’s fine, chill out” mode. It slows things down, constricts pupils, & whispers, “Take a nap. Eat the cookie. Everything’s fine.”
Normally, these two systems balance each other like a seesaw. But if the sympathetic nerves to the eye get damaged, the parasympathetic side wins the tug-of-war. Result? Rascal’s current pirate cosplay.
Why Did This Happen to Rascal?
That’s the thousand-dollar question (literally i have the vet bill).
Ear infection? Nope.
Trauma? Rascal pleads the fifth.
Random idiopathic nonsense? Bingo. (Translation: “We have no clue, but here you go.”)
So, What Now?
We did the full senior-cat workup—blood tests, pokes, prods—the whole spa day. Everything came back fine. He’s not in pain, his vision’s intact, & his new look doesn’t bother him at all.
So now we wait. Horner’s often resolves on its own. The 3rd eyelid has already retracted since being to the vet.
In the meantime, Rascal continues his reign of sweetness, currently curled up next to me while I spiral down another late-night rabbit hole of feline neurology articles. He’s unbothered. I’m feral. Business as usual.
What You Should Do if You See This
If your cat suddenly has a droopy eye, constricted pupil, or their third eyelid decides to stage dive, don’t ignore it. Horner’s itself isn’t life-threatening, but it can be a symptom of something else going on. Get your cat checked by a vet ASAP.
Rascal might look like he’s trying to join a ghost ship, but he’s still the same goofy, lovable old man he’s always been. Honestly, he wears it well.
With fur, fangs & fight-the-system energy,
-a
follow along.
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blog. hoomanepetcare.com/blog
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