Jaundice in Cats 2025

Icterus or yellow skin, more commonly known as jaundice is when tissues throughout the body turn yellow due to high levels of bilirubin (a bile pigment) in the blood. You will most likely notice jaundice on the skin, whites of the eyes or gums. Jaundice falls into three categories: prehepatic, hepatic and posthepatic. Finding out what category your cat’s jaundice falls into will help your vet figure out what the underlying condition and cause is. Jaundice usually signifies something wrong with the liver.Types of jaundice

• Prehepatic jaundice occurs before blood has reached the liver.
• Hepatic jaundice is when there is damage or disease to the liver.
• Posthepatic jaundice occurs after blood has passed through the liver.

Symptoms of jaundice