TL;DR: Yellowing of the eyes or skin in cats is a medical emergency that indicates a serious underlying health issue. You should contact an emergency veterinarian immediately for diagnosis and life-saving treatment.
What causes the yellowing of my cat's eyes or skin?
Yellowing of the whites of the eyes, skin, or gums in cats is known medically as icterus or jaundice. This discoloration occurs when there is an excess of bilirubin—a yellow pigment formed from the breakdown of red blood cells—in the bloodstream. In a healthy cat, the liver filters this pigment and excretes it. When the liver is overwhelmed, damaged, or the bile ducts are blocked, the pigment builds up and stains the visible tissues of the body.
Is yellowing of the eyes an emergency for my cat?
Urgency Level: High.
- Yellowing of the eyes is a critical medical emergency and is never a normal sign.
- This symptom typically indicates a severe underlying condition such as hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver), toxins, feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), or a massive breakdown of red blood cells.
- Because these conditions can lead to rapid organ failure, you should contact an emergency veterinarian immediately for stabilization and diagnostic testing.
How does taking a photo of my cat's eyes help the veterinarian?
- Taking a clear, well-lit photo allows the medical team to assess the intensity of the jaundice and prepare for your arrival.
- A photo serves as a vital clinical record to compare against as treatment progresses.
- When taking the photo, use natural, indirect light and avoid using a flash, as the flash can create a glare on the cornea that masks the true color of the sclera.
Clinical Context (Merck Veterinary Manual)
Acute presentation for severe abdominal hemorrhage subsequent to liver lobe rupture usually leads to the diagnosis in Oriental short-hair and Sian1ese cats. Ultrasonography can often identify a developing hematoma at the site of liver lobe rupture. Aspiration of abdominal effusion confirms active hemorrhage. Diagnosis can be made by aspiration cytology if amyloid fibrils are retrieved. Otherwise, diagnosis is made by identifying an1yloid deposits in a liver biopsy; an1yloid is confirn1ed by tissue. staining with Congo red and exammat1on under polarized light. Because familial an1yloidosis is a progressive systemic disorder, prognosis is poor. Cats surviving acute, severe hep�tic hemorrhage by aggressive adnlin1strat1on of blood component therapy subsequently suc cun1b to renal amyloidosis.
Chapter: Hepatology, Emergency, Internal Medicine
Source: The Merck Veterinary Manual, 11th Edition (Page 473)