Fur turning White?

Lady_MCSE · 11-17-2008, 10:00 PM

I have a curiosity that I guess I'd like to ramble on. Not worth running to the vet about, as my vet already thinks I"m a hypochondriac-by-proxy with my kitties anyway...

Boxer is somewhere around 8 years old now. He's a black-and-white "Tuxedo cat" with white chin and white paws. Two years ago he was diagnosed with Kidney failure. Went to two different vets, and the test results came back the same, and even had ultrasound done to confirm that his kidneys are just about half the size they should be and kind of shrivelly. Diagnosis - bad genetics.

So for two years he has been on Science Diet's "Feline K/D" diet, mostly dry with getting the wet 2-3 times a week. He has been doing great on that and usually goes several months between needing to have Subcutaneous Fluids. Last couple of times he was in to the doctor for urinalisys, the results came back "not fantastic, but not horrible."

Now, within the past couple of months, I've noticed a white patch of fur on his right butt cheek. If it were a horse, I would've said it was from a bad scar and grew back white, but to my knowledge he's had no such injuries at that spot, it's just sort of suddenly turned whitish. Not solid white, but a noticable cluster of white hairs in an area abou tthe size of a quater.

Then over the weekend I was looking at him a little closer, and the same thing is happening right around his collar. He's not wearing a collar at the moment because he's good a chewing through them.

And he isn't supposed to go outside anyway, so the collars were always sort of a "just in case" thing anyway. So he's not wearing one, but right where he used to wear one, he has an excessive number of white hairs.

So... has anyone seen this before? Is it just a typical sign of age in a cat? Am I being silly for even noticing?

OSUJillyBean · 11-18-2008, 01:30 PM

That sounds weird. Do you have pics? I've never seen a cat's scars grow back in white the way horses' sometimes will.

horsey-gal · 11-18-2008, 01:33 PM

I have a black & white cat who when he was born was tangled in the cord. It was embedded in his skin, now he has a white line of fur around him that was where the cord was.
I would guess you are noticing the white now due to your cats age and kidney problems. Its just a guess though.

**seerfarm** · 11-18-2008, 03:45 PM

That would be my thought as well, that the kidney failure is causing a premature and or lack of pigment to the hair folical. I have seen them grey naturally as with dogs when they become older, so it may just be that he is showing it more rapidly due to his health issues.

Stormy's Human · 11-18-2008, 03:51 PM

My Dobie was hit by a car about 8 yrs ago and she had a contusion on her side and the hair over that contusion grew in white. I guess it's the same with cats and horses and dogs!!!

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11-17-2008, 10:00 PM
Lady_MCSE Greenbroke Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Shytown, IL Posts: 3,646	Fur turning White? I have a curiosity that I guess I'd like to ramble on. Not worth running to the vet about, as my vet already thinks I"m a hypochondriac-by-proxy with my kitties anyway... Boxer is somewhere around 8 years old now. He's a black-and-white "Tuxedo cat" with white chin and white paws. Two years ago he was diagnosed with Kidney failure. Went to two different vets, and the test results came back the same, and even had ultrasound done to confirm that his kidneys are just about half the size they should be and kind of shrivelly. Diagnosis - bad genetics. So for two years he has been on Science Diet's "Feline K/D" diet, mostly dry with getting the wet 2-3 times a week. He has been doing great on that and usually goes several months between needing to have Subcutaneous Fluids. Last couple of times he was in to the doctor for urinalisys, the results came back "not fantastic, but not horrible." Now, within the past couple of months, I've noticed a white patch of fur on his right butt cheek. If it were a horse, I would've said it was from a bad scar and grew back white, but to my knowledge he's had no such injuries at that spot, it's just sort of suddenly turned whitish. Not solid white, but a noticable cluster of white hairs in an area abou tthe size of a quater. Then over the weekend I was looking at him a little closer, and the same thing is happening right around his collar. He's not wearing a collar at the moment because he's good a chewing through them. And he isn't supposed to go outside anyway, so the collars were always sort of a "just in case" thing anyway. So he's not wearing one, but right where he used to wear one, he has an excessive number of white hairs. So... has anyone seen this before? Is it just a typical sign of age in a cat? Am I being silly for even noticing? __________________ A little self-deprecating humor from time to time can be healthy. Just be cautious -- make sure it doesn't turn to self-defecating humor. --LadyM

11-18-2008, 01:30 PM
OSUJillyBean Greenbroke Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 3,121	That sounds weird. Do you have pics? I've never seen a cat's scars grow back in white the way horses' sometimes will. __________________ "And speaking of Italy and sports cars that I stole there, you still owe me a yellow Porsche." — Alice Cullen

11-18-2008, 01:33 PM
horsey-gal Coming two Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Valley, N.S Posts: 1,758	I have a black & white cat who when he was born was tangled in the cord. It was embedded in his skin, now he has a white line of fur around him that was where the cord was. I would guess you are noticing the white now due to your cats age and kidney problems. Its just a guess though. __________________ " If God made anything more beautiful, he kept it for himself. "

11-18-2008, 03:45 PM
seerfarm Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Out with the Herd! Posts: 8,241	That would be my thought as well, that the kidney failure is causing a premature and or lack of pigment to the hair folical. I have seen them grey naturally as with dogs when they become older, so it may just be that he is showing it more rapidly due to his health issues. __________________ "Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us". ~Hal Borland

11-18-2008, 03:51 PM
Stormy's Human Long Yearling Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Seville, Florida Posts: 1,264	My Dobie was hit by a car about 8 yrs ago and she had a contusion on her side and the hair over that contusion grew in white. I guess it's the same with cats and horses and dogs!!!