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.

OP should change his name to The Pink Panther.

I second chalk, my white cat is now a shade of blue due to my dd's chalk outside

I love it when the 1st post nails it 😁

Is the pink restricted to places where he is able to groom himself by licking? The photo suggests it might be. That would make it more likely that the saliva-staining via excessive grooming (mentioned in the article linked to above)might be a cause.

It’s on the sides of his cheeks now as well so I don’t think it’s that, as he can’t easily groom there other than the usual cat paw swiping manoeuvre?

I’ve discovered they now make break-away collars with built-in air tag holders…the more you know. I actually have a spare air tag so I’ve bought one of the collars. If he’s visiting the sheep fields I’ll find out soon I guess!

We had a colour run in a park near us which turned our dog green after a walk. Have you had any events like that nearby?

Ours came in like that once

turned out he’d brushed up against wood with chalk on - builders use it on ping string lines to get straight lines

First year lambing early - main flock willl be end of March but trying some early girls who will be due 19th Jan to try and hit the early trade - I may or may not repeat it next year! 🤣🤣

You really shouldn't have shown me this, I'm going to get nothing done now 🤨

Me too 🤣

Did any neighbour get pink granite peddles for their garden that he loves rolling around in?

I'm really only posting hoping for further photos of your handsome lad... My lad is black, so stains are invisible! Which is good because he loves rolling around in dry soil when it's sunny.

That is a great picture lol he looks offended that you are questioning what he likes to roll about in in his spare time haha probably chalk

Ohhhh he looks like my also tabby and white pickle! He kept rocking up to bed with his white parts a suspicious shade of peach.... I eventually worked out he was rubbing in my make up brushes 🙈

What a cutie!

No idea. In this article in the Telegraph they had no idea either. www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/3323358/The-cat-that-turned-pink.html

My best guess is that a neighbour has bought a new red leather sofa or deep pile red rug. Or it could be simpler: red trousers.

Getting jiggy with Bagpuss.

I'd be tempted to get a collar cam, if he'll wear it, so you can see exactly what it is.

He's the most handsome pink cat I've ever seen in my life 😍

I would post this in 'the litter tray' section of MN. Someone might have pertinent ideas there.
Just to add - gorgeous cat and the 'washed with a red sock' suggestion is pure genius 🤣.

I wonder if he's rubbing against a newly plastered wall or similar. New plaster can be chalky,, pink, and I can envisage my own cat taking a liking to rubbing against it.
?

😂 love that! That is exactly what it looks like

This thread is making me laugh far too much, for what started off as a sensible question - washed with a sock, eaten a flamingo and now Bagpuss!

For the record, went to a dogs first birthday party once (I know!), and there was a pink chihuahua. However, it had been made red first thing, and the dye wouldn't wash out. It

lol at eaten a flamingo.

I have a largely white dog, and his predecessor was also largely white. So I know how little it takes to leave a visible stain on white fur. Contact with berries on a walk gave my last dog a pink stain that lasted for a long time (I don't think your cat's stain is berries, thought. Too diffuse and evenly distributed). And my current dog had an unpleasant brown stain for a while which I think was from a few drops of (tepid) coffee that landed on his back. (At least I hope it was coffee.)

Definitely get a little cat cam for his collar

I dunno OP but dpony who is white has a pink face intermittently this summer. This is due to a red flymask leaking dye when he gets sweaty or has had his head in wet grass/bushes.

Maybe your cat has a red lycra catsuit lying around that he slips on, goes out doing SuperCat business all the day, then comes home for his supper and a kip?

He looks that sort tbh.