What color should my kitten's tongue and gums be for good health?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! in a young kitten, this is likely just a change in pigmentation and not a big concern. I would not be too concerned about this unless you ever notice a mass effect or it seems to be causing any discomfort. Best of luck!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This can be very normal in pink nosed cats! The color can change with ambient temperature, with activity or when stressed (gets more pink). It can indicate anemia but cats that are anemic also have pale gums and act sick. If her nose still gets its normal pink color she is likely fine. My own cats nose does this. If you are unsure about her gum color, have your Vet check her to be sure. I hope this helps!

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Yes, this is normal. Each cat and dog is different, some have pigment of varying degrees inside of their mouth and some have almost none. So, good observation. In cases where there is significant pigmentation of the mouth, other areas of the body can be used to assess how pink they are. The inside part of the eyelids is a good place to check that. Good luck

The color of gums can help us guess at the red blood cell level, but it is a poor guess. White gums would mean really, really sick, and pink gums don't tell us that a pet is healthy. Mello may have an upper respiratory infection, which most cases are viral. But they can hit the body hard and often the kittens need oral antibiotics, fluids, supplements like Lysine, nutritional support, etc. I would really recommend that you have him examined by the vet since this has been going on for a week and he isn't any better.

White gums in any animal is concerning as it can be a sign of shock or anemia. Based on your attached photos, I would not be alarmed about the color of the gums. They are not pale, they are an adequate pink color. Unless you notice other changes such as weakness or lethargy or vomiting, then I would not worry and just monitor for further changes.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is not necessarily a problem. In fact, this is most likely a normal change in pigmentation. If this ever develops a mass effect, I recommend that you have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment. Best of luck!

If he has a deformity of his ribs then I worry he could also have a deformity of his diaphragm and a diaphragmatic hernia where abdominal structures herniate into the chest and prevent proper oxygenation. This can produce a whitish gum color. The kitten could also be pale from anemia caused by parasites or other infectious diseases. I would highly encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible. They will be able to access the kitten and give you a more realistic prognosis based on their physical examination findings. Best of luck and I hope he improves! Thank you for using Pet Coach.