Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK

Cat Health & Behaviour => Health & Behaviour General => Topic started by: LilyandGary on July 26, 2010, 17:42:56 PM

Title: Unusual coat colour in a kitten!
Post by: LilyandGary on July 26, 2010, 17:42:56 PM
Hi Everyone

I`m fostering some kittens for Angie at the mo. One of them, a little girl called Clare, has some markings on her coat which I wondered if anyone could shed light on.

She is about 10 weeks old now. When they arrived about 3 weeks old, she was a black fluffy bundle.

About 6 weeks of age, a white-ish stripe developed down her spine, which has spread in width and length. The black seems to have a slight dark brown tinge to it too.
The silver patch is now quite big on the back of her head, and her tail, belly and round her eyes are also going silvery-grey. The vet says there is nothing wrong with her (I did wonder if she was going bald! :rofl:) and they do occasionally see this colouring.

The tips of the hairs seem to be black, with the rest of the shaft becoming silvery-grey. I just wondered if this is what is know as a "smoke-tipped" coat, or similar.

One of her brothers is a black kitten with white markings, and her other brother was a fluffy ginger boy. Dont know what Mum was. Do know though that she has got her paws under the table well and truely! She spent the afternoon yesterday curled up with my Labrador!

Thanks all, Nicky
Title: Re: Unusual coat colour in a kitten!
Post by: Gillian Harvey on July 26, 2010, 23:34:34 PM
Wow!  :wow: A silver-backed kitten  :evillaugh: I bet the silvery colouring round her eyes is cute - she must look like a panda!  ;D
Title: Re: Unusual coat colour in a kitten!
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on July 27, 2010, 08:23:05 AM
She's a racoon kitty!!
Title: Re: Unusual coat colour in a kitten!
Post by: JackSpratt on July 27, 2010, 10:03:20 AM
No idea about colouring - but she looks stunning.  :Luv:
Title: Re: Unusual coat colour in a kitten!
Post by: LilyandGary on July 27, 2010, 11:47:40 AM
Phew - I`m glad everyone else is as puzzled as me on this one!

She is here for at least another 2 weeks until she has put on a bit more weight. She is behind her brother in the progress stakes, but they did all have a very traumatic start to their lives.

I guess we`ll just have to wait and see how she turns out - currently she is asleep under my dog`s chin, very soggy as he`s been in the pond down the woods! She doesn`t seem to mind the smell either!
Title: Re: Unusual coat colour in a kitten!
Post by: Sam (Fussy_Furball) on July 27, 2010, 13:24:38 PM
OMG it's a skunk!!!!! are you sure it's a kitten  :rofl: :rofl:

look familiar ....

Title: Re: Unusual coat colour in a kitten!
Post by: LilyandGary on July 28, 2010, 19:06:08 PM
OMG Sam, I hadnt thought of that! :rofl:

I was hoping more for a badger, but the white bits are getting more extensive by the day. My friend came today, who hasnt seen her for 5 days. She couldnt believe how much it has spread on the top of her head! She looks - sorry for the description - manky, to say the least at the mo. Cant wait to see how it develops.
Title: Re: Unusual coat colour in a kitten!
Post by: Kirst on July 29, 2010, 17:11:33 PM
Wow , unusual , but I like it! :wow:
Title: Re: Unusual coat colour in a kitten!
Post by: Gillian Harvey on July 29, 2010, 17:50:16 PM
I found this about fur changing colour - apparently cats can suffer from vitiligo like humans can - scroll down to a cat called Charva - looks very similar

http://www.messybeast.com/bicolours.htm
Title: Re: Unusual coat colour in a kitten!
Post by: Tiggy's Mum on July 29, 2010, 23:45:33 PM
How unusual!  :Luv2:

Very interesting link there Gillian  ;D
Title: Re: Unusual coat colour in a kitten!
Post by: Janeyk on July 30, 2010, 08:02:06 AM
ooh, aren't they unusual, our Pepper Pot is Cap and Saddle/Bicolour  ;D
Title: Re: Unusual coat colour in a kitten!
Post by: LilyandGary on August 11, 2010, 20:49:43 PM
Just a quick update -

Clare seems to be determined to stay here! She is still loosing the black fur she had, and the silvery patches are getting bigger by the day. The one on her spine is much wider, and almost joined up to the one on her head, which is spreading round to the front of her face. Weird! It doesnt help that the black fur is fluffy and longish, and silver hairs are shorter.

She is having too much fun playing with Alfie to mind, but I do wish she would remember to use the litter tray when she is running riot. but that`s another story!
Title: Re: Unusual coat colour in a kitten!
Post by: LilyandGary on October 06, 2010, 13:32:46 PM
After all the fuss and worry, her coat has come back as black, with a silver undercoat! :rofl:

What was all the fur loss about, I wonder?

Sadly, she did develop "sticky feet" syndrome, and has since been adopted by me. I`ve kept her name as Clare, as it seems to have stuck.
Title: Re: Unusual coat colour in a kitten!
Post by: Sam (Fussy_Furball) on October 06, 2010, 15:52:03 PM
Ahhhh so pleased she is staying with you ...... can we see pics of the "new black" coat  ;)
Title: Re: Unusual coat colour in a kitten!
Post by: Lotzy on October 06, 2010, 17:34:36 PM
My black cat tends to turn a russet brown colour in the summer.  I know turning silvery grey is a bit extreme, but just wondering if it's her summer coat. Be interesting to know if the same happens again.
Title: Re: Unusual coat colour in a kitten!
Post by: Tiggy's Mum on October 06, 2010, 17:43:07 PM
'Sticky feet syndrome' - love it!  :evillaugh:

Glad she has a wonderful home, she certainly sounds unique  :Luv:
Title: Re: Unusual coat colour in a kitten!
Post by: Angiew on October 06, 2010, 17:44:03 PM
'Sticky feet syndrome' - love it!  :evillaugh:



Its a local epidemic  :briggin:
Title: Re: Unusual coat colour in a kitten!
Post by: Cooper & Peanut on October 06, 2010, 17:47:02 PM

Sadly, she did develop "sticky feet" syndrome 

 :rofl: That's really cute! Love it