My cat has pale gums, losing hair, and acting withdrawn. Is he sick?

Cat gums can normally appear more pale than you would expect on a dog. Also, pale mucous membranes is not a great indicator of anemia, because the color can be influenced by other factors such as blood pressure and environmental temperature. Pictures are not a great way to visualize colors, but this does not seem unusually pale to me. If you feel like you are noticing a drastic change in the color, then it is possible that something is off in her body, but not likely if she is otherwise acting normal. The conditions that cause pale mucous membranes would cause other clinical signs such as weight loss, decrease in appetite, and/or decrease in activity. I think you have little to worry about right now, but it's difficult for me to tell for sure without examining her. The best way to make sure she is healthy is to schedule a wellness exam with your vet. They will be able to help you further with this concern. I hope that helps and all is well with Kitty.

Poor Bubba sounds ill! When a cat loses weight despite eating, it could be caused by a medical illness such as diabetes, hyperthyroidism, or kidney disease. The pale gums could be a sign of anemia. I would have Bubba seen by a vet first thing in the morning for a physical exam, blood tests, and a urinalysis. These tests can help diagnose what is causing his symptoms, and the vet can discuss treatment options with you.

Hi! So sorry to hear that Paris is not feeling well. It sounds like Paris is anemic based on the color of her gums and the fact that she does not feel well which means that she is clinically affected. I recommend that you have Paris evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible to figure out what is wrong and start therapy for it. At the very least, she could have bloodwork done to see if she truly is anemic and go from there. Keeping my fingers crossed that evrything goes well!!

Oh that does not sound good. Throwing up so much warrants an urgent visit to the veterinarian and some blood tests checking kidney and thyroid parameters. Pale gums could point to a blood disease. The signs are very unspecific, therefore blood tests are necessary to help with a diagnosis. Please schedule an appointment with your veterinarian tomorrow.

Pale gums and inappropriate dietary habits (commonly called Pica) are quite common in anemic states and this should be checked as soon as possible to find underlying cause. A blood test and urine analysis is needed in order to start investigating clinical suspicion of lower red blood cells. I would recommend an immediate check up, treatment and outcome will depend on the results of clinical examination and blood tests. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Julius likely also needs to be wormed. In order to make sure he is ok I suggest you take him to your vet for an exam. You say he has white gums: this is a sign of anemia which would be the reason for him to be so tired. Make sure you feed him a good quality kitten food, and get a flea preventive medication for him to kill all the fleas on him as well as in his environment. If he is at least 5 weeks old you can use frontline spray. On the photos I can also see that he has discharge from the eyes which may point to an upper respeiratory infection. Your vet can help with that as well with some antibiotics, if indicated.

Pale nose and ears in a cat can be a sign of anemia (low red blood cell count), shock, or dehydration. The pale color happens because of poor circulation to the extremeties, which can be caused by any of the conditions I mentioned. If possible, I would recommend having your kitty examined by a vet since some of these issues can be serious - your vet can do some basic blood work to help determine what's wrong.