Emergency — phone the vet now
Within hours
Yellow gums or eyes in a cat (jaundice)
Yellow gums, eyes, or inner ears in a cat indicate liver problems and are always an emergency — phone the vet now.
Recognise the signs
- Yellow tinge to gums, whites of eyes, inner ears, skin under fur
- Off food, often for days before yellowing seen
- Vomiting, weight loss, lethargy
- Drooling, dark urine
First aid steps
- Phone the vet immediately.
- Bring the cat in carrier with minimum handling.
- Note when the cat last ate fully and how long it has been off food.
Do NOT
- Do not give any human medication — paracetamol kills cats.
- Do not delay — fatty liver progresses fast in cats off food.
- Do not force-feed at home.
When to phone the vet immediately
- Any visible yellowing
- Cat off food more than 24 hours
- Vomiting alongside yellowing
- Collapse
Common causes
- Hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver) — often after fasting
- Cholangitis (liver/bile duct inflammation)
- Liver tumour
- Pancreatitis
- Toxin exposure (paracetamol)
- Haemolytic anaemia
What the vet will need to know
- Time off food and weight history
- Possible toxin access
- Indoor/outdoor
- Other current signs
Aftercare
- Hospitalisation with feeding tube common (especially fatty liver).
- IV fluids, anti-nausea, liver support.
- Treatment of underlying cause.
- Recovery often takes weeks; many cats do recover with intensive care.
Prevention
- Don't let cats fast — vet contact within 24 hours of refusing food.
- Annual senior bloods.
- Never give human paracetamol or medications.
Frequently asked questions
Why is fasting so dangerous for cats?
Fatty liver disease (hepatic lipidosis) develops within 2–3 days, particularly in overweight cats. The liver becomes overwhelmed and can fail.
Can my cat survive jaundice?
Many do with prompt intensive care, particularly if fatty liver is the cause. Outcomes worsen significantly with delay.
How can I tell if my cat is yellow?
Lift the lip and look at gums, peel back the eyelid for the white of the eye, look at the inside of the ear flap. Compare to your usual mental picture.