Why is my cat's fur turning white? Is it vitiligo or just aging?

It is difficult to tell in these photos, but if your dog's fur itself is turning white/color fading away without loss of the hair itself it could be a condition called vitiligo. This causes loss of the pigment of the skin and hair. Often it is a harmless condition but can sometimes be seen with some autoimmune disorders so it is recommended to have an exam done by Tyson's vet to be on the safe side.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Bruno. I'm not really sure what is going on with him but hair coats can and do change over time in dogs and cats. I don't think this has to do with any premature aging as you hinted to. I would just continue to monitor this and if it spreads or worsens, have your veterinarian evaluate him. Your vet can gather a history and perform an examination to look for causes of this. But honestly, I think this is just a small area of coat color change. Good luck

This is likely an age related change and nothing to worry about. Some animals can develop white hair or whiskers prematurely at a younger age even. Regardless, it is typically something that is not concerning. Maintain her annual exam and get her blood tested each year as a preventive screening. I hope this helps!

We can sometimes see color changes in haircoat in animals as they age, or as a result of inflammation or trauma to the skin. If there are no lesions (redness, crusts or scabs, raised bumps, etc.) and your kitty is not bothering at the area by licking/scratching at it, I would just continue to observe the site. I would check it weekly for changes. If he begins to lose hair, starts licking/scratching, the skin looks red or irritated or other spots appear, then a vet exam is recommended.

If your veterinarian can rule out a fungal and/or bacterial infection, then your kitty may have a condition called vitiligo. Vitiligo happens when the pigment cells in the skin get destroyed (Michael Jackson hat vitiligo....so that is what made his skin so white). You can find many photos of cats with vitiligo on line. The condition is nothing to worry about...it is just a "beauty" thing.

It’s difficult to say without doing an exam but these could be normal hair pigment changes. This sometimes will happens as a cat ages. I would also be concerned that something may be going on with the skin. I would make sure that it is just the hair that is discolored and the skin in that area look normal. I would be looking for an scabs, discoloration or redness of the skin and whether she is licking or bothered by those areas. If you are not sure, I would have your vet take a peak to ensure it looks normal. Your vet will be able to start her on the proper meds if needed. I hope this helps!

If no skin lesions are present, that could be completely normal being part of the aging process. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.