Yellow Gums or Eye Whites in a Cat: Call the Vet

New yellow color in the whites of your cat's eyes, the gums or the inner ears can be jaundice. Call a veterinary clinic promptly and ask where to bring your cat. If your cat collapses, struggles to breathe or is extremely weak, go to an emergency clinic. Yellow tissue is a sign the team needs to evaluate even if your cat still ate breakfast.

Record what you saw in ordinary light

Tell the clinic where the color appeared and when you first noticed it. A quick photo in daylight can help show the difference from your cat's normal color, as long as taking it doesn't delay the call or require holding the cat down. Some cats have naturally dark gums, so you may have first noticed the change on the eye whites or inside an ear. VCA’s jaundice guide describes those places and explains why pigment can make a change hard to see.

Note how much the cat has actually eaten, whether vomiting occurred, and any change in stool, urine, or usual activity. Include medication, supplements and anything unusual the cat may have had access to. Our appetite observation guide helps you report intake with a useful time and amount.

Let the exam answer where the problem starts

Bilirubin is a pigment made as the body breaks down red blood cells. The Merck Veterinary Manual describes several ways it can build up, including red blood cell destruction, liver disease or a problem with bile flow. A photo and an appetite record can help the clinic plan an assessment. They can't identify which process is involved.

Ask whether to bring food or medication packaging and whether the team has any feeding instructions before arrival. Don't wait to see whether a different food changes the color. If another household member is bringing the cat, send them the time the change began, the recent food record and the medication names so they can give the same history.

Written by PARTNER Editorial Team for general education. Contact your veterinary team for advice about your pet’s individual health and feeding needs.