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Question
I am fostering a litter for our local humane society, and I have a conundrum. One of the kittens, a male(based on physical characteristics we think he may have some Persian in him), was a very long haired black and white (thick coat)- but once he turned around 12 weeks old, he started loosing his long hairs... now he still has a few long black hairs, but his coat now looks like it's just the gray undercoat. It may have started around 5 weeks (I thought he was barbering)under his tail and down his back legs,and now it's progressed all over his body, creeping up his head. All the time that I've had him he has been a happy, healthy normal acting kitten (the most emotionally well adjusted of the litter). No fleas, no itching, nothing. I've been trying to do my research (I work for at a vet's office and none of our doctors have seen anything like it)I know he's nowhere near a pure bred, but do you have any insight on what may be happening? So far my theories are a fever coat (without a fever?) or a smoke coat(?) Have you ever heard of a long haired kitten growing into a short haired adult? Just curious. Thank you for your time.
Amanda,
Given the weather, it is shedding season and your kitten has grown what the Persian breeders call kitten coat. After a change of coat, as the weather cools (the days get shorter), the coat should come in longer. The true, black color should be in by the time the kitten is 8-10 months of age. This is normal for Persian coated kittens and nothing to worry about. At this time, I would not expect it to be either fever coat nor smoke coat. The smoke coat really does not come in until he kitten would be much older and would appear on the head first (behind the ears) and then on the front legs.
I would wait until the kitten is much older before trying to draw any conclusions about what kind of coat it will end up with.
Best regards... Norm.
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Answers by Expert:
Norman Auspitz
Expertise
I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.
Experience
I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.
Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.
Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook
Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.
Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.
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