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Cats/Cat's fur changing colour and getting thicker

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Expert: - 6/7/2009


Question
We had adopted a new cat that is about 4 years old. After 2 weeks with us she managed to escape and has been missing for about 4 weeks. We have had a possible sighting and have seen the cat, in fact I have picked it up. The cat we have lost had black fur with a chocolate undertone and thin fur. The cat we saw showed a lot of the characteristics of our cat except the fur was a browny black colour and much thicker. Could this be our cat? Would her fur thicken after being exposed to the elements for 4 weeks and if so is it possible for the chocolate undertone to become more predominant? Many thanks. Brett

Answer
Brett,

If your kitty hasn't had much decent food it's possible her coat has changed color slightly and gotten thicker especially if it's chilly in your area. If you have a microchip implanted under her skin you can verify whether or not this kitty is yours. I'd recommend having a vet check the cat over and give you an opinion about whether this is your kitty or not. If this isn't the kitty you originally adopted and she's homeless it's not a bad thing to provide her with a forever home particularly if you put posters found kitty posters bearing her picture and your phone number around your local area and you don't see any response.

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Ali

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I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.

Experience

I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.

Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.

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