Black cat going brown?

[DKL]

Anyone else had this?
Our eldest is black but always looked quite brown when the sun shone on her. Actually when she sits next to one of the other black ones she isn't very black at all.
But of late her back is getting quite a lot browner especially along her spine and over her rear haunches. Other than that she's fine. Anything to worry about do you think?

[Sheets Tabuer]

Sun does that, lazy cow has been lounging around all day.

[toxgobbler]

Sheets Tabuer said:

Sun does that, lazy cow has been lounging around all day.

This, our long haired black cat does every summer.

[bexVN]

How old is she?

[muppets_mate]

bexVN said:

How old is she?

Following this thread with interest. One of mine's fur is doing something similar. I mentioned it to the vet as an aside on a previous visit and he suggetsed it was old fur that was changing colour due to age/sunlight/uv.

Mine's 15.5 years old. His sister is as black as the ace of spades and spends as much time as him outdoors if not more.

What else could it be?

[bexVN]

There are some suggestions that it could be due to kidney changes. But I don't know how true that is. Unless already done so in the last yr it may be worth considering a blood test to check.

[muppets_mate]

Interesting...! He had a blood test recently and the kidneys came back as clear but the pro-BNP (hope it gets past the filters!) came back with a cardiomyopathy diagnosis and he's on Fortekor.

His sister has been diagnosed with CRF and is on monthyl Laurabolin injections. She shows no coat colour change !

[bexVN]

Did a quick google, thyroid, liver or kidney problems can cause colour change as can being deficient in an amino acid called Tyrosene.

[Ace-T]

Our little black tuxedo cat has now only got black tipped hair. It is brown then grey at the root. Almost as if the hair ran out of colour. She is 21 though.

[Simpo Two]

bexVN said:

Did a quick google, thyroid, liver or kidney problems can cause colour change as can being deficient in an amino acid called Tyrosene.

tyrosine (just in case you want to google it)

[bexVN]

D'you know I thought it looked wrong after I posted it

[mrmaggit]

Old Black Cat had brown hair, but only noticeable when the sun was bright.

Nearly a year since the old lad toddled off, miss him still.



Black Cat. A real individual, Guzzi's only friend.

Absent Friends

[DKL]

She's 12. There is quite alot of lazing around! Slightly concerned about the potential organ dysfunction so maybe she will see the vet next week. This is the cat that had brain surgery and then went missing for 6 weeks.

[bexVN]

Don't worry, lots of black cats get a brown tinge to their coat and are fine. It's just one possible reason.

[DKL]

Kidney, liver and BS all confirmed as normal so all's well. Just getting old - aren't we all!

[bexVN]

:thumbsup: good to know. Gives peace of mind aswell.

[ali_kat]

[otolith]

I should think that all black cats are actually very dark brown.

Ours certainly looks brown in the right light.

[bexVN]

otolith said:

I should think that all black cats are actually very dark brown.

Ours certainly looks brown in the right light.

That's definitely thought to be likely but there are still those that change what shade of brown they are and it can be health related

[otolith]

Yes, that would seem reasonable.

(same applies to humans, though unfortunately the ageing process is not merely turning my black hair a lighter shade of brown...)