My gray cat's fur is turning brown. Is it normal or a diet issue?

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. This could potentially be just a color change in the hair coat due to the change in season like you said yourself (winter coat). Some animals do develop color changes as they age as well. As long as she is acting normally and there are no changes to the skin, this is likely a normal change. If you are concerned at all, I would recommend having a veterinarian take a look at her so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made.

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!

It's not uncommon for the black parts of the coat to turn reddish with sun exposure. That's the most common cause and it's a benign change. A poor diet could also potentially do it as well. Make sure you are feeding a high quality cat food. Please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hello, and thank you for your question. Zuko is such a handsome kitty! Occasionally focal areas of skin can get darker after it has healed after a period of inflammation. This can cause a concurrent change in the hair colour. In this location under the neck, a common cause of inflammation is chin acne, for example. If the fur and skin is otherwise looking healthy in this area, I would recommend to monitor it. If there is any concurrent scaling, redness, or itchiness, I would take Zuko to the vet within the next few days to rule out ongoing infection, or allergies, etc. I hope this helps!

Hi Laura! The changes in Jasper's coat color could be due to a variety of causes, including endocrine/metabolic diseases (hyperthyroidism is one example), cancer, nutritional deficiencies, or steroid administration (prednisolone is one example). I realized that I mentioned both cancer and hyperthyroidism as possible causes of coat discoloration, but these are highly unlikely given Jasper's young age. If Jasper's diet has changed considerably or if he has received steroids as a part of his soft stool management, it is possible that these changes could be related. Make sure that Jasper is eating an appropriately balanced diet, such as a commercially prepared cat food. Many home cooked diets lack an appropriate vitamin and mineral balance, and these deficiencies can cause coat discoloration. Also, speak with Jasper's vet to determine if he is currently receiving a course of steroids or has taken steroids recently. If he is comfortable and not itchy, the coat changes may not be a cause for concern, but it is still worth mentioning to your vet.

This appears to be just a change in color of the hair alone. No worries. THe haircoat in kittens often does change as they get older. As long as the skin itself looks good as you part the hair, there is no concern. : ) Thanks for visiting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Take care. : )

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. There may not be anything wrong with Mittens. Some pigment change in early kittenhood is not uncommon. I would mention it to your vet at her next vaccine appointment just to be safe. If, of course, you see anything else like a raw section, bleeding, or change in the texture of the nose, please see your vet sooner. Best wishes to you and Mittens!