Can someone please figure out the mystery of the Pink Tabby?

[FlannelShirt]

Starting one week ago, our cat has begun coming home pink. It’s actually even worse now, as he’s come back with what looks like extreme pink contorting on his cheeks.

He’s clearly found something he enjoys rubbing up on. What could our neighbours be doing? It isn’t stiff like if it were drying paint, for example. It’s not dried blood either. His fur is very fluffy and soft, no change in texture nor odour.

Well he's clearly been washed with a red sock

I wonder if there is a pavement nearby that's been drawn on with pink chalk that your cat has enjoyed rolling in?

made friends with Clifford?

That’s a good guess, I hadn’t considered that. Only thing is it’s been happening for a week straight and it did rain quite heavily last night (and today is when he has appeared with his contoured cheeks).

I forgot to mention that it’s stained his fur so not easily removed.

What about a flowery shrub. Any neighbours with a big fuchsia bush?

Is he visiting another house where a child enjoys being a makeup artist?

How mysterious.

Put a collar and a tracker on him (Airtags or Tile) and follow him! Or put a notice up on NextDoor/local Facebook page asking if anyone has a painted red wall/shed/roof he might be sprawling over.

Pink suits him though.

He's very handsome and doesn't look overly impressed in that pic! 😂

He is enjoying himself, flaunting his pink! Lovely lad.

I've no decent suggestions sorry but following as a fellow Tabby & White owner. 😁

Are any farmers spraying their colour on sheep as markers?

oh he's a lovely lad. Agree chalk likely.

😳 There are sheep fields but they’re about a mile away. Could it be possible? I haven’t been by there to see if they’re being sprayed or not, maybe I should check 🤔

Cats roam across a large enough territory but I'm not sure if they fraternise with sheep. It just reminds me of seeing lambs and sheep sprayed and it doesn't wash off.

Could he be rubbing against sheep or on the ground? Maybe overspray on fences as he passes through into the field? Farmers supplement their diet with food, that might be attracting mice or rats, and they in turn are attracting your handsome boy.

Is there any sign of dirt when you flea comb the area? He could be lying on something slightly rusty or rubbing past a rusting fence post, iron oxide can appear pink on cat fur.

😂😂😂

Have any of your neighbours got a brand new red sofa?

Red leather boots that have been recently polished?

No practical suggestions - but what a gorgeous cat ❤️

Got his highlights done at the salon, didn't he?

He's absolutely gorgeous!

It looks like something more "dye" than paint, as you say his fur doesn't look crusty or sticky. Is he transferring the pink back on to your surfaces? Possibly spray paint...

This made me laugh far too much!

No transference of colour. I tried wiping it off with a damp cloth, nothing. He grooms himself, nothing. Only over time did it start fading, then he went out and did it again! And again 😩

As to the question about flea dirt combing? He is on flea meds so he doesn’t get flea problems thankfully.

I’ll pass on the compliments to him, I’m sure he’ll be very pleased.

I think it's a bit early for tupping, but if there's a ram with a harness and red raddle then maybe a little of that has got spread around.

Flea combing was to check for iron oxide particles that could be causing the pink colour as rust is very hard to remove, stains for a long time not to check for fleas.