Answer

Hello,

 

As cats age they experience a wide range of changes. Some of those changes are benign, and some indicate illness. Some cats will undergo pigment changes on their skin, gums and even their eyes. This is most likely nothing to worry about, but given the age and indoor/outdoor status of your kitty, I think that a trip to the vet is a good idea. Cats are considered to be geriatric at 8 years and and can be prone to illness as they age. The 3 most common ailments known to afflict elderly cats are diabetes, kidney disease and hyperthyrodism. While the pigment changes you are seeing in your cats eyes are not typical symptoms of any of the above illnesses, the eyes can be affected in many ways, particularly in a diabetic kitty. The fact that your kitty spends some time outside concerns me because he may be showing some very subtle signs of illness that while hard to notice in an indoor cat would be almost impossible to notice in a kitty that does go outside. At some point in the near future I think that a trip to the vet for an exam and some blood and urine tests would be a good idea to screen for potential illness. Even if everything comes back normal you have established base line values which will be very valuable if kitty ever become sick. Please let me know if I can be of further assistance. If this has been helpful, please hit the green accept button. Good luck!