Has your black cat gone brown?

[glastocat]

I read a post on here somewhere asking about this but can't find it now. Anyway it said that a black cat turning brown is probably due to the sun. While this is possible, according to my vet it is unlikely.The real reason is due to nutritional deficiency caused by either a poor diet, or in my case, the cat needing to be wormed. So if this has happened to your cat please make sure it is wormed regularly, and that it is fed a high quality cat food ( we feed ours Royal Canin, the vet says that is fine). Just a heads up!

Hi thanks for that info, my 14 year old black cat (who went wandering last weekend the turned up on monday morning as if nothing had happened) has been looking very brown of late and i must admit i did think it was down to his love of lazing in the sun, but ill be getting him some worming tablets pronto to see if that makes a change, hes fed the best food already (by myself and every other little house he visits!!)

but definatly interesting to know this can cause it!

Glad to be of help Vix! Let me know if it makes a difference please.

I always thought it was as a result of moulting - the hair turns a really dark brown (like the colour of liquorice) then falls out, same thing happened with our black labs. Always in the spring when they lose their winter coat.

I thought it was age, my black cat is an older cat and is defo going brown/ginger. he is wormed regularly , ooh, am worried now.

My cats are 4 years and 8 months, so its not due to age with my two. My vet is a specialist cat vet, she says they can go brown due to the sun, but not with the weather we have had this year so far. She quizzed us about diet, but as our cats get Royal Canin for their main diet and Whiskas for treats, it wasn't the problem. So she thought it was probably worms. We are going back in another two weeks, so I will keep you posted.

Hi I was the original poster and yes you have me worried now, I will get him wormed.

there is also a gene which some black cats carry that causes "rusting" i think it may even be called the rusting gene. which will gradually turn a black coat to a rusty brown colour. it happens gradually with age despite sun or weather exposure.

but always wise to get any other potential causes ruled out first.