Jaundice in Cats: Causes, Meaning and What Comes Next

By Dr. Zubair Khalid, DVM, MS, PhD · 2026-10-03

Jaundice in cats causes yellow color to appear in the gums, the whites of the eyes, the skin, and sometimes the urine. It happens when bilirubin, a yellow pigment made from worn-out red blood cells, builds up faster than the liver can clear it [1]. The common causes of jaundice in cats fall into three groups: problems before the liver (red blood cell destruction), problems inside the liver, and problems after the liver (blocked bile flow) [1].

This article is educational and is not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis or treatment.

Quick Answer

• Yellow gums or eyes in a cat are never normal. They mean bilirubin is building up in the body, and the cat needs a veterinary exam promptly [1].
• The cause can sit before the liver, inside the liver, or in the bile ducts after the liver. Your veterinarian has to sort out which one it is [1].
• In cats, inflammatory bile duct disease (cholangitis) is the most common liver disease, and it can cause sudden, obvious illness with fever, pain, and jaundice [2][3].
• Some cats with jaundice have a surgical emergency, such as bile leaking into the belly. That is confirmed when bilirubin in the abdominal fluid is more than 10 times higher than in the blood [1].
• Do not wait a few days to "see if it clears up." Call your veterinarian today.

What Jaundice Looks Like and What Is Normal

Normal cat gums are pink. Normal eye whites are white. In jaundice (also called icterus), those tissues turn yellow because bilirubin pigments collect in the blood and then settle into soft tissues, including skin, the sclera (the white of the eye), mucous membranes like the gums, and the urine [1].

The color can be subtle at first. Check your cat in natural light. Look at the gums above the upper canine teeth, the inside of the eyelids, and the ear leather, which is thin and easy to see through. Some owners first notice yellow on the belly skin or a darker than usual urine color.

Jaundice itself is a sign, not a disease. It tells you something is wrong with red blood cell handling, the liver, or the bile drainage system [1]. The severity of the yellow color does not always match how sick the cat is, so do not use color alone to judge urgency.

What Causes Jaundice in Cats?

Veterinarians group the causes by where the problem sits: prehepatic (before the liver), hepatic (in the liver), and posthepatic (after the liver, meaning the bile ducts and gallbladder) [1]. This grouping guides the testing and the treatment.

Prehepatic Causes

Prehepatic jaundice means too many red blood cells are being destroyed, so the liver gets flooded with bilirubin faster than it can process it [1]. Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia is the classic example. These cats are often weak and pale, and their gums may look yellow and washed out at the same time. This is a life-threatening problem that needs immediate care.

Hepatic Causes

Hepatic jaundice means the liver itself is not clearing bilirubin properly [1]. In cats, the most common liver disease is cholangitis, an inflammation of the bile ducts [3]. There are several forms, including a chronic lymphocytic form and an acute neutrophilic (suppurative) form, and some cats have features of both [3].

Acute suppurative cholangitis usually makes a cat suddenly and obviously sick. Signs include fever, an enlarged liver, abdominal pain, jaundice, lethargy, vomiting, poor appetite, and weight loss, and it is typically seen in young or middle-aged adult cats [2]. These cats also have a higher risk of infections coming from the digestive tract [2].

Other hepatic causes include hepatic lipidosis, primary liver tumors, and a hepatitis B-like virus called domestic cat hepadnavirus, which researchers are still working to understand [4][5]. A recent case report described a cat with severe acute liver injury, fever, lethargy, and poor appetite who had mild jaundice and improved with hospitalization and supportive care [7].

Posthepatic Causes

Posthepatic jaundice means bile cannot drain out of the liver and gallbladder, so bilirubin backs up into the blood [1]. The blockage can come from a gallstone, thick bile sludge, a mass, or inflammation from nearby organs such as the pancreas. Jaundice is often the main sign in animals with gallbladder or bile duct disease [1].

The most feared complication is bile peritonitis, where bile leaks into the abdominal cavity. If your veterinarian finds bilirubin in abdominal fluid at more than 10 times the level in the blood, that confirms bile leakage and is a surgical emergency [1].

Red Flags That Make It an Emergency

Go to an emergency hospital now if you see any of these:

• Yellow gums or eyes plus a swollen, painful belly
• Yellow gums or eyes plus collapse, extreme weakness, or heavy breathing
• Yellow gums or eyes plus repeated vomiting and refusal to eat for more than 24 hours
• Pale or white gums along with the yellow color
• A cat that cannot stand, seems confused, or feels cool to the touch
• Known or suspected bile leakage, which is a surgical emergency [1]

Call your regular veterinarian the same day if the yellow color is mild, your cat is still eating and drinking, and there are no other red flags. Jaundice is not something to monitor at home for several days.

Safe Things You Can Do at Home While Waiting

Your main job is to keep your cat stable and get to the vet. A few practical steps help.

• Do not give any human medication. Pain relievers like acetaminophen and ibuprofen are toxic to cats. Do not give any drug unless your veterinarian prescribes it.
• Offer water and small amounts of your cat's normal food. If your cat refuses all food, that is information your veterinarian needs. A cat that stops eating is at risk for hepatic lipidosis.
• Keep your cat indoors and quiet. Sick cats hide, and you do not want to search the neighborhood.
• Take photos of the yellow gums and eyes in daylight. Color changes can be easier to track in pictures than in memory.
• Write down the timeline. When did you first notice the color? Any vomiting, appetite change, weight loss, or behavior change? Bring this list to the appointment.
• Collect a urine sample in a clean container if you can do it without stress. Dark yellow or orange urine is useful information.

If your cat is vomiting repeatedly, read Cat Vomiting Bile: Causes and When to Call the Vet so you can describe what you are seeing accurately. If your cat has lost weight or looks thin along the spine, Feline Hypoproteinemia: Causes, Diagnosis, and Management explains another liver-related change your veterinarian may check.

What Your Veterinarian Will Check and Test

The exam starts with your cat's history and a hands-on check. Your veterinarian will look at the gum color, feel the abdomen for pain or an enlarged liver, check for fever, and assess hydration and body condition [2].

Blood work is next. A complete blood count looks at red blood cells and white blood cells. A chemistry panel measures liver enzymes (ALT, ALP, GGT), total bilirubin, and albumin. Cats with liver and bile duct disease tend to have higher liver enzyme activities and bilirubin with lower albumin compared with healthy cats [4]. Your veterinarian will interpret these numbers alongside your cat's age and signs, because some differences fade when cats are compared with age-matched controls [4].

Imaging usually follows. Abdominal ultrasound can show the liver texture, the gallbladder, the bile ducts, and any fluid in the belly. It can also reveal a blockage or a mass. If fluid is present, your veterinarian may sample it and compare bilirubin levels in the fluid and the blood [1].

Sometimes a liver biopsy is needed to tell the forms of cholangitis apart, since they can look similar but respond to different treatments [3]. A biopsy is also how primary liver cancer is confirmed [4].

Treatment depends on the cause. For acute suppurative cholangitis, care includes fluids to correct dehydration and long-term antibiotics for 2 to 3 months to treat bacterial infection, plus liver-protective medications, vitamin supplementation, and nutritional support [2]. If there is an obstruction between the liver and the gallbladder, surgery is needed to restore normal flow [2]. Bile peritonitis also requires surgery [1].

Your veterinarian will calculate every medication dose from your cat's weight and health status. Never use a dose from the internet or from a previous pet.

If your cat's belly is painful and the vet mentions pancreatitis as a possible trigger, Pancreatitis In Cats Symptoms covers the signs in more detail.

Prevention and Monitoring

Some causes of jaundice cannot be prevented, but you can lower risk and catch problems early.

• Feed a complete, balanced diet and keep your cat at a healthy weight. Overweight cats that stop eating are at higher risk for hepatic lipidosis.
• Never let a cat go more than a day without eating. If your cat refuses food for 24 hours, call your veterinarian.
• Keep up with routine wellness visits. Blood work on a senior panel can catch liver changes before the eyes turn yellow.
• Watch for early hints: vomiting, poor appetite, weight loss, increased thirst and urination, and changes in energy [2].
• If your cat has a chronic liver or bile duct condition, keep every recheck appointment. Chronic cholangitis can need months of management [2][3].

If you notice skin or coat changes along with the yellow color, Cat Hair Loss: Causes and When to See a Vet can help you tell what is related to illness and what is not. If your cat is scratching at the ears or shaking the head, Ear Infections In Cats Symptoms covers that separate problem.

Limitations and When to Contact a Veterinarian

No article can tell you why your cat is yellow. Only an exam and testing can do that, and individual cases need a veterinarian.

Contact an emergency hospital now for yellow gums or eyes with a painful or swollen belly, collapse, heavy breathing, repeated vomiting, or a cat that will not eat. Bile leaking into the abdomen is a surgical emergency [1].

Call your veterinarian the same day for any new yellow color in the gums, eyes, or skin, even if your cat seems otherwise fine. Also call the same day if your cat has yellow urine, stops eating, or starts vomiting.

Schedule a routine visit soon if your cat has a known liver condition and you notice subtle changes in appetite, energy, or weight. Early adjustments to treatment are easier than crisis care.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can cats have jaundice?

Yes. Cats can develop jaundice from liver disease, bile duct disease, red blood cell destruction, or severe infection elsewhere in the body [1][6]. It is not a breed-specific problem, and it can affect cats of any age. Yellow gums or eyes always need veterinary attention.

Is yellow eyes in cats always serious?

Yes. Yellow eyes mean bilirubin is accumulating in the body, which only happens when something is wrong with red blood cell handling, the liver, or bile drainage [1]. Some causes are treatable and some are emergencies. The only way to know which one your cat has is an exam and testing.

How fast does jaundice develop in cats?

It depends on the cause. Acute suppurative cholangitis can make a cat suddenly and obviously ill, with jaundice appearing as part of a rapid onset of fever, pain, and lethargy [2]. Other causes, such as chronic cholangitis or liver tumors, can build up more slowly over weeks [3][4].

Can a cat recover from jaundice?

Many cats can improve once the underlying cause is treated. One cat with severe acute liver injury improved with hospitalization and supportive care and was still doing well at a follow-up nearly nine months later [7]. Cats with acute suppurative cholangitis often need 2 to 3 months of antibiotics plus supportive care [2]. Recovery depends on the cause and how early treatment starts.

What should I do if my cat's gums turn yellow?

Call your veterinarian or an emergency hospital right away. Do not wait to see if the color fades, and do not give any human medications. Bring a timeline of signs and photos of the gums if you have them. If your cat also has a painful belly, collapse, or trouble breathing, go to the emergency hospital now [1].

Related Articles

• Cat Vomiting Bile: Causes and When to Call the Vet
• Feline Hypoproteinemia: Causes, Diagnosis, and Management
• Cat Hair Loss: Causes and When to See a Vet
• Pancreatitis In Cats Symptoms
• Ear Infections In Cats Symptoms
• Cat Ear Infection with Redness: Causes and When to Worry
• Cat Jaundice: What It Means and How to Help
• Liver Disease in Cats: Symptoms, Causes and Jaundice
• Jaundice in Cats: Yellow Eyes, Ears, and Gums Explained

References

1. Jaundice in Small Animals - Digestive System. Merck Veterinary Manual.
2. Disorders of the Liver and Gallbladder in Cats - Cat Owners. Merck Veterinary Manual.
3. Feline Cholangitis. The Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice, 2025.
4. Retrospective study of biochemical profile changes in 93 cats with different hepatobiliary diseases. Journal of feline medicine and surgery, 2025.
5. Domestic Cat Hepadnavirus, a Hepatitis B-like Virus Associated with Feline Liver Disease. The Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice, 2025.
6. Retrospective Evaluation of Hyperbilirubinemia in Cats and Dogs With Septic Peritonitis or Pyothorax. Journal of veterinary emergency and critical care (San Antonio, Tex. : 2001), 2025.
7. Blue-Green Neutrophilic Inclusions in a Cat With Severe Hepatocellular Injury. Veterinary medicine and science, 2026.

Further Reading

• Merck Veterinary Manual: Cat Owners
• Cornell Feline Health Center: Health Information
• American Veterinary Medical Association: Pet Care