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Why does my white kittys' pink nose and ears sometimes turn white or lose their color?
Why does my white kittys' pink nose and ears sometimes turn white or lose their color? Should I be worried?
Answer:
The pinkness you see coloring your cat's nose and ears is blood filling the capillaries – easily seen on these areas
where there is thin skin. If your cat is pink most of the time, do not worry. This can happen normally, when your kitty is cold – in order for the body to warm itself, blood is shunted away from the periphery (ie, the tiny capillaries that supply blood to the skin of the nose, ears, toes) and toward the internal organs to help warm your kitty up.
If, however, your cat appears pale most of the time, this could mean the cat is anemic (too few red blood cells) – which can occur with several serious diseases such as kidney disease, FIV (feline
immunodeficiency virus), FELV (feline leukemia virus), FIP (feline infectious peritonitous), even certain cancers. Mild anemia can also occur with less serious conditions such as when a cat has fleas or worms or is not receiving adequate nutrition.
As always, it is best to have your cat examined by a vet to make sure the paleness is not an indication of a medical problem. At minimum, your cat can be tested for anemia and for FIV/FELV.
Best of luck to you and your kitty,
Dr. Jennifer
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