Amazing Color-Changing Kittens: What Is Fever Coat?
Kittens are pretty magical. They can bring even the most jaded people to their knees with a single, tiny mew. They can instantly brighten any day and make the sun feel like it's shining even if it's storming. But they can't change colors, right? Funny story: It turns out they can.
While the above photo would satisfy all my Lisa Frank-fueled childhood dreams of a hot pink kitten, the "color-changing" kittens we're talking about are born with bright silver. As they age, their fur changes until they are a completely different color than the fluff they were born with, a phenomenon known as "fever coat."
Fever (or stress) coat occurs when the mother cat is ill with a high fever or stress during pregnancy and doesn't usually have any negative effects on the kitten's overall health.
A stray moggy from the UK, Georgie, gave birth to a litter of six kittens born with this unusual coloration. Maggie Roberts, head vet at Cats Protection HQ in Sussex, was contacted in regards to Georgie's strange brood. Four of the kittens only had the silver patches on their legs, but two were completely covered in the silver fur.
After a bit of research, it was determined that the kittens most likely have fever coat. As they aged, the kittens shed their silvery outer coats and showed their true colors: two black kittens, three torties, and one tabby.
More recently, a tiny, premature kitten was brought to the National Kitten Coalition, discovered hours after he was born. Co-founder Susan Spaulding worked 'round the clock to save this fantastically colored preemie, whom they named Rizzo.
The silver portion of Rizzo's fur will eventually turn black, like other cats with fever coat. "Just as with Siamese points, which are due to a temperature-sensitive gene, the coloring shows darker on his extremities because their temperature is cooler," says Spaulding, who has had a dozen or so cases of fever coat over her years working in cat rescue.
Rizzo in action (still a bit wobbly!):
Rizzo's changing coat:
Bruce the cat is another example of a rescued kitty that grew out of his silvery fever coat into a handsome black cat.
Have you ever had a color-changing kitten?
[h/t LoveMeow, The Ross Gazette]
I have a 1.5 yr old female who had beautiful swirly black strips until about 6 months . slowly it faded to red and almost blonde with only black left on her tale face and a bit on her legs. I have never seen this before. Any ideas?
My male kitten was a black smoke and at 6 months he is all black with a chocolate look on some of him…waiting to see his true colors!
His mother was a ragdoll and his father was maine coon.
This is in reply to Joan Scholey’s comment/question. That occurs over time when black or dark coated cats lay in the sun…they literally get bleached hair lol and as dark hair turns red/rust colored when bleached your kitty gave itself a new “Do” totally accidentally and naturally lol I bet it’s pretty& interesting looking depending upon which side he sleeps in the sun most on that area will have more intense rust colored areas, but have no fear! If you don’t like the rusty look on your fur Baby tho u can get a UV blocking film for your windows that won’t take away his warm nap spot but will reduce or stop the bleaching effect.
The mama cat is tabby and calico not sure what the daddy is we were thinking maybe saimese cause 3 kittens looked tabby and calico and the 4 th one looks like a saimese but has beautiful gray eyes they look amazing (the saimese kitten)
Intrigued by each and every one of these magical stories but ……
I have a 4 year old neutered all jet black extremely fluffy male cat whose fur is turning ginger around the edges of his ruff? Can anyone please explain why this is happening?
Thanking anyone/everyone in anticipation of a reply.
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