The color of the gums can provide us with important information on the health of our four-legged friend: this is what pale mucous membranes in cats indicate.
In medicine, timing is of the essence. But it is not always easy to realize that there is something wrong with our four-legged friend; and often, when the first symptoms appear, it is already too late. The gums of the animal are able to communicate important information about its state of health: in this article we will find out why we should worry when the cat has pale mucous membranes.
The colors of the cat’s gums
Cat’s gums usually have a pink color, just like ours.
A different shade of the mucous membranes usually indicates the presence of a disorder.
A very intense red can be the hint of various problems: from excessively high blood pressure to a heat stroke, up to the onset of a state of shock. If red is characterized by a less intense shade, most likely we are facing inflammation.
Similarly to bright red, even a blue color, tending towards blue, must sound the alarm bell. In fact, it usually indicates that the cat has breathing difficulties. It could also be a symptom of either excessively low blood pressure, or hypothermia.
On the other hand, jaundice in cats is the pathology responsible for the yellow color of the mucous membranes. The animal’s liver does not function properly, causing a buildup of bilirubin, which is not excreted properly.
Pale cat mucous membranes: the causes
The white color of the gums also indicates the presence of a health problem affecting the animal.
As a rule, the cat with pale mucous membranes suffers from anemia. As is known, it is a disorder due to the lack of red blood cells in the blood. Anemia is often a symptom of another disease, or a side effect of taking a medicine.
The mucous membranes of the cat can also turn pale due to a state of shock, which can be due, for example, to internal bleeding. The color tone of the gums is due to the inability of the animal’s body cells to receive enough blood.
How to intervene
If we notice that the cat’s mucous membranes are pale, it is advisable to contact your trusted veterinarian.
If the animal is in shock, the intervention must be immediate.
However, it is good not to underestimate the situation even when the cat does not present other symptoms besides the pale color of the mucous membranes. As mentioned, most likely he could suffer from anemia, due in turn to other pathologies: among them also cancer, FELV and IVF, for the treatment of which the timeliness of the intervention is essential.
