Expert: Jessica - 7/23/2009

Question
My cat's skin is becoming discolored in his ears and on his face with a yellow tint and he has open sores in the corners of his lips; he seems to be acting relatively normal, but I think he has lost some weight and enthusiasm.  What do you think it is and how can we treat him.  Will this infect our other cat?

Answer
Hi Rebecca.  Yellowing skin is a sign of jaundice.  This typically occurs when there is liver failure, but also sometimes as the result of the rapid destruction of red blood cells.  In either case, jaundice is usually a sign that something serious is going on.  

Liver disease can occur for no known reason in cats, and mouth sores can be a secondary symptom of liver failure.  There are also diseases known to cause liver failure, such as the feline AIDS and feline leukemia viruses.  These incurable viruses are contagious to other cats, especially feline leukemia.

Some blood tests should be run on your kitty.  They can check your kitty's liver function, check for the leukemia and AIDS viruses, and look at his blood counts to detect whether this is liver disease or if his blood cells appear to be being destroyed.  If his blood cells are being destroyed, a test can also be run for a disease called Feline Infectious Anemia, the most common cause for this.  This disease is most often spread through flea and tick bites.  It can be cured with antibiotics.

Unfortunately, liver failure is difficult to overcome in cats if the underlying cause cannot be found and treated, but there are some supplements, such as Marin and Denosyl that may be able to help prolong your kitty's life.

Best wishes, I hope everything turns out well!

Jessica