Additional Protective Layer
The effects of the anesthesia that is administered to animals prior to undergoing medical procedures that require them to be under anesthesia can occasionally spread to the animals’ eyes. Cats, in contrast to humans, each have three eyelids on their own eyes. The nictitating membrane is the common name for the third eyelid, also known as the nictitating membrane.
It is believed that the cat’s third eyelid serves as an additional protective layer to guard against injury to the cornea, which is relatively large. When a cat is under anesthesia, however, the third eyelid, which is normally hidden from view, may become apparent. Even though this is perfectly normal, it may give the impression that something sinister is going on.