Cat changes color? Understand the reasons behind this feature
A question that many tutors ask, especially when observing this condition in some coats, is if the cat changes color . After all, a tutor in love with his feline knows him better than anyone.
This is excellent, as every observation about the cat can help the veterinarian to understand what the change in color of the cat 's fur is related to. Follow this article and learn more about this condition!
Find out why cats change color
The change in the color of the cat's fur can be related to several factors, however, most are born and remain with the same color. After all, the coat is associated with the gene.
However, some conditions can justify the fact that the cat changes color, such as age, breed or a mixture of them, time in the sun, fall and even illness. Next, look at some of these conditions.
Age
As age advances, human hair turns gray. In some cats , this depigmentation can also happen. However, most of the time, this is subtle and makes them even more beautiful.
Races
An example of a cat breed that changes color is the Siamese. It is born in a light beige or grayish tone. As it grows, the colorpoint regions (snout, ears, tail, paws) darken to near black tones, while the body maintains beige/brown tones.
On the neck and the rest of the body, that is, the warmest parts, the coat color remains light. Therefore, it is common to find Siamese cats with more than one color.
Food
Another issue linked to the cat's color change is food. Cats need to consume the amino acid tyrosine which, when lacking, does not form pigmentation and, therefore, the fur can change color.
If the cat's coat is black, you will notice reddish tones in it. If there is this deficiency, the veterinarian will order some tests to arrive at the best diagnosis.
Overall, a quality food is an excellent choice for owners, as it has all the nutrients that cats need. If necessary, supplementation should only be indicated by the professional.
Illnesses
Another issue related to the amino acid tyrosine is that the lack can also be related to some diseases. In this case, you may notice that the black coat can acquire a coloring towards brown tones. The cat changes color when it carries the following diseases , which influence the change in fur:
⦁ liver diseases;
⦁ kidney diseases;
⦁ thyroid diseases.
This also happens from prolonged exposure to the sun. So, if in doubt, know that the veterinarian is the most appropriate person to diagnose if there is a problem.
Puppy cat changes color?
Another common situation is in relation to kittens. They can be born with one color and acquire other shades as they develop, up to 45 days.
This happens mainly with the “Sialatas”, that is, the kittens that have some mixture of the Siamese in the genetics. They are born white and change color with body temperature, just like the Siamese.
Cat breeds that change color
As mentioned earlier, the Siamese cat changes color , but other breeds also go through this process. Then see what and such characteristics are.
Himalayan cat
Like the Siamese, the Himalayan cat has a melanin-producing gene, which acts according to body temperature. In fact, their coloring is very similar. Often, the temperature of the region where they live can also affect their coloring.
Khao Manee
This breed of cat is born with a very dark spot on its head that lightens as it grows and becomes completely white. In fact, according to the history of this breed, the Khao Mene was the royal cat of Siam.
In this rare breed, the cat changes color, and the eyes also vary. Kittens with eyes of two colors such as blue, green or amber are often found.
Ural Rex
This is one of the most curious breeds in terms of color change and hair characteristics. They are born with grayish hues and only after the change do they acquire a predominant color. In addition, the hair grows wavy from two months onwards. At just two years old, the coat becomes more uniform.
Cat genetics
Cat color genetics is something fascinating, isn't it? A curiosity is that the inheritance of colors comes from a genetic pattern called sex-linked inheritance, as it is related to genes expressed on the sex chromosomes (X).
There are genes for one or two colors, expressed on the X chromosome. Females are XX, so they can have three colors. Males are XY, and since they only have one X chromosome, they can have one or two colors.
This may be different when the cat has Klinefelter syndrome. It causes the coat to have black and orange colors, but it is rare and can have up to three colors.