Answer: No, not necessary. In many cats the gums, lips and plate (which are the most easily examined mucous membranes) together with the inner lining of the eyelids and the tongue may appear a very pale pink. But in most of these animals laboratory tests establish that there is actually no anemia, i.e. no deficiency of the red blood cell or of the red oxygen-carrying pigment (hemoglobin) which the cells contain. Clearly, pallor of the mucous membranes is a normal feature of many cats.
Apart from anemia the other important cause of extreme pallor of these membranes is shock. This usually follows some from of injury and is accompanied by other signs which are so obvious (extreme weakness, panting, cold paws even in warm surroundings, trembling and often loss of consciousness) that is usually easy to diagnose.
In anemia the lack of hemoglobin to carry sufficient oxygen to the tissues causes the animals to tire easily and to breathe rapidly even after only mild exertion. In severe cases the beat rapidly even when resting.
