Thread: Change in fur colour

Don't know if this relevant but my dogs are a breed that are always black and white and have totally black heads and ears but in the sun their ears get a red tinge to them - almost looks like they have had some red high lights added

Thanks guys, hadn't even thought about sun! I wouldn't say she's out in it LOADS but her favourite Tigga tower is in the window so she's probably getting more sun than I imagine just being in doors! And we've had them both in the garden every possible moment for the last week or so. As long as there's no health implications, the tinge doesn't worry me. She's a beautiful, mad little love bug - black smoke, or rusty black smoke!

Hi Karen, yes I've noticed the same with our 2 now that they're out in the garden so much during the day. Larry the solid black is definitely browner, and even Monty the black smoke has a sort of russet tinge in a certain light. I guess it's the black fur going brown in all the sunlight - quite attractive really!

From a site about Persians but the same applies for Maine Coon coats:

"The sunlight is another factor that influences the blackness of the Persian cat’s coat. A combination of sunlight with saliva actually works to oxidize the pigmentation. As a result a brown tinge develops in the black coat which is considered to be undesirable."

So tell her to stop washing!

Originally Posted by Wendy1969

From a site about Persians but the same applies for Maine Coon coats:

"The sunlight is another factor that influences the blackness of the Persian cat’s coat. A combination of sunlight with saliva actually works to oxidize the pigmentation. As a result a brown tinge develops in the black coat which is considered to be undesirable."

So tell her to stop washing!

That's a great suggestion... if only the wilful little demon would ever do ANYTHING she was told!! Except fetch, and cuddle!!

Originally Posted by candes

Maybe you should post some pics so we can see for ourselves. Cough cough.... Hint hint...

Oh gosh, you meant Wicca... Silly me.... Still want to see some pics of both of them! What color are spider monkeys supposed to be anyways?

You are the epitome of subtlety, Candes... and have given the perfect excuse to post some updated photo's of my rusty-smokey little lovebug and her beautiful tortie niece!!

Originally Posted by candes

Well it worked, didn't it? Tee hee...

Oh gosh, I fell asleep, sitting up, mid post here. Feeling a bit under the weather. So I will finish this post and go to bed.

Anyways, thanx for the pics. I really enjoyed them a lot. Both your kitties are looking fab. Still love Freyjas party hat. Oh wait I mean ear tips. And I see what you mean about Wiccas fur. I can remember one of my cats fur doing the same thing. But theirs was under their neck. I think from sitting at the window all the time. Wonder what folks do for show cats, huh? That could be a real problem for them. Do they sell sun block for fur?

I wonder too if his is hormonal. Has he been fixed recently?

Ah, good point - she was done a bit later than I'd have liked (what with damp walls, ceilings, carpets, then building works going on - didn't want her getting filth in the wound) so she was probably closer to coming into call than was ideal. She was done February/ March in the end. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't care if she was green with orange spots as long as she was happy and healthy! And it sound like the rusty colouring may be a combo of sun in the window, regular healthy grooming from Freyja, and maybe hormonal changes.

I have recently noticed that Ffion who was a silvery tabby, with a couple of peach patches has gone a dark grey colour over the last week. Is this a seasonal thing do you think? Or just natural evolution of a kitten coat?