What Does Cat Jaundice Look Like See Photos

What Does Cat Jaundice Look Like?

Does your cat have jaundice or icterus or have you heard that terms applied to other cats? Some people call it a "yellow cat" disease because the skin, white of the eye (sclera) and mucous membranes have an abnormal yellow tint.

Many of my readers who are cat lovers are very educated about and and very in touch with their cats. I am always amazed how well you really know your pets and monitor for changes. This is so helpful when detecting illness and disease in cats.

Today I'd like to talk about jaundice. You may have heard this word before, but I'd like to define it and talk about what it means to cats. I'll even show you some photos.

Jaundice, also referred to as icterus, describes the yellow color taken on by the tissues throughout the body due to elevated levels of bilirubin (a substance that comes from the breakdown of red blood cells). Most people think of jaundice as being associated with liver problems, which it can be – but that is not always the case.

Common causes include:

• Liver diseases – e.g. infections, tumors, or problems caused by toxins
• Diseases that cause the breakdown of red blood cells – when the red blood cells are damaged or destroyed they are broken down into bilirubin. The liver is working fine. There is just an abundance of bilirubin in the body.
• Diseases near the liver can cause jaundice. For example, problems that block the bile flow. Diseases of the pancreas, gall bladder and intestinal diseases that block the bile ducts can cause problems.

To learn more about jaundice or icterus in cats and/or to see photos, go to: Jaundice in Cats.