OneStepAtATime Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 My solid black cat that I have owned for years and have know since she was a kitten is turning brown. Her solid black son is not so I don't think it is something in the environment, but maybe I am wrong. I don't really care what color she is. I just don't want this to be some sort of health issue or exposure to something dangerous. Any suggestions? Anyone ever have something similar happen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustEm Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 Does she lie in the sun alot? That can happen when they lie in the sun a lot. Or she could be deficient in the amino acid tyrosine. Age can also be a factor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slache Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 Give her a bath. Sometimes they brown when the undercoat is too thick and a bath will thin her out. It could be hormonal too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted June 28, 2014 Author Share Posted June 28, 2014 O.k. she is strictly indoors so it isn't sunlight but she might need a bath. She is about 7 years old. It started with her face. At first we thought it was just the lighting that made her face look brown. But we soon realized she really is turning brown. The face is the most noticeable but the rest of her body is starting to turn brown as well.... Thanks for the responses, by the way. I have owned a lot of cats over the years. I have had kittens change color as they turn into adults but never an adult cat with a solid color change color. Really weird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paige Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 Could it be a kind of graying? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ailaena Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 We once had a black cat that would turn brown in the summer. She didn't start doing it until she was, maybe, 5ish years old. My tuxedo cat gets an auburn undertinge in the summer, as well, so I always thought it was normal for black cats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavandula Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 We once had a black cat that would turn brown in the summer. She didn't start doing it until she was, maybe, 5ish years old. My tuxedo cat gets an auburn undertinge in the summer, as well, so I always thought it was normal for black cats! It happened with our cat too. It's due to heat, not sunlight. I think there's also something about diets but ours was definitely due to the heat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted June 28, 2014 Author Share Posted June 28, 2014 Interesting. It is HOT here. About 100 degrees on average right now. And even though we have AC, it is still definitely warmer in the summer inside than it was in the winter. So maybe a combination of age and heat? That would make sense since her son is about 2 years younger than she is. I think she would be too young to be graying, but maybe I am wrong. I am used to indoor cats living a really long time, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavandula Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 I don't know anything about age, but yep, a common misconception is that it's just sunlight. It often is caused by sunlight because the sun is giving off heat, obviously, but it can be hot without the sun. It'd be more obvious in the face because the hair is thinner there (or something, I just know something about the face showing sooner/more). It's not anything to worry about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 My black cat turns a bit brown in the summer. I had a black dog who did the same thing. My guess is for your cat it's a combination of that and aging. I wouldn't worry about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barb_ Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 I have a flame tip white Siamese (look here for images: http://www.life-with-siamese-cats.com/flame-point-siamese-cat.html) that is more orange or white depending on the temperature. How old is your cat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted June 29, 2014 Author Share Posted June 29, 2014 O.k. so I will assume this is normal. She seems fine. No change in behavior at all. And Barb, those cats are beautiful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barb_ Posted June 29, 2014 Share Posted June 29, 2014 O.k. so I will assume this is normal. She seems fine. No change in behavior at all. And Barb, those cats are beautiful! Thanks! We got him as an abandoned 3 week old alongside the interstate and he's been the best cat we've ever had. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plink Posted June 29, 2014 Share Posted June 29, 2014 I really hope it is normal, but I'd talk with a vet just in case it is a sign of something. Our black toy poodle turned brown starting at her muzzle and we found out that the cause was kidney disease. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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