Tuxedo Kitten with faded stripes?

Tagged: Kitten, stripes, Tabbies, tuxedo

This topic has 10 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 11 months ago by Chaos.

Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)

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3 May, 2012 at 12:53 pm #51127

TabbyTuxedoMama
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Hello, I am new here and this is my first post. I’ve adopted a male black and white (tuxedo) kitten named Sylvester. When we first got Sylvester at 8 weeks, he was VERY tiny, but all black and white. Around 10 weeks he started developing very faint stripes and spots, almost as though his fur has faded in those areas. He is a VERY active and eats and drinks plenty. I forgot to mention my 3 year old adult male tabby, Bear! Bear does groom Sylvester frequently, not sure if that could have something to do with it? I can’t seem to find anything about this online and was just wondering if anyone had any insight to share with me! Thank you!

3 May, 2012 at 1:26 pm #729929

ecbrown
Participant

I think it is normal for stripes to appear and get more noticeable with time. My Leo’s foster mom reported to me that that is what happened with him. (We adopted him at 4 months.) A friend of mine rescued a black and white tuxedo kitten at 7 weeks and I noticed if you looked really closely you could see faint stripes in his black fur. I don’t think you have anything to worry about. It sounds like Bear is a good big brother.

Oh, and welcome to TDK!

3 May, 2012 at 1:35 pm #729930

TabbyTuxedoMama
Participant

Thank you so much! The spots are actually quite pretty. 🙂

3 May, 2012 at 4:08 pm #729931

ladysky61
Participant

It’s normal for a kitten’s fur to change over the first few months. The profile pick is sooo cute!

3 May, 2012 at 5:12 pm #729932

HuddysMama
Participant

My tuxie Sebastian had stripes that you could only see if he sat in the sun. The first time I noticed it, it was very shocking. Who knew? lol

3 May, 2012 at 5:22 pm #729933

debsterwiz
Participant

My Amy is solid black unless she is sitting in the sunshine, when she is you can see the faint stripes.

3 May, 2012 at 5:23 pm #729934

Jeankit
Participant

Welcome to TDK TTMomma! Here is a link which explains the hidden/stripey markings on many cats! One of my kits who appeared all black had stripe pattern too when sat in the sun!

http://cats.about.com/cs/tabbycats/a/tabby_cats.htm

4 May, 2012 at 3:20 am #729935

jcat
Participant

Yup, tabby stripes are the ‘default setting’ for cat colouring, which makes sense when you think about it, because they are so good for camouflage. Here is another link about why you might see tabby stripes on a tuxie cat in the sun:

http://cats.about.com/od/felinegenetics/f/blackcatgenetic.htm

4 May, 2012 at 3:36 pm #729936

KYKAT 12 23
Participant

Even siamese cats have a faint striping to them In the sun I can see a little stiping in Thierry’s mask

4 May, 2012 at 4:13 pm #729937

HuddysMama
Participant

That’s interesting JCAT. Sebby used to look ‘rusty’ in the sun also.

5 May, 2012 at 3:46 am #729938

Chaos
Participant

Yeah, black coats change drastically if they aren’t pure black. I have a little black kitty, and her coat is a gradient from brown to black with stripes on her head, and little white furs sticking up. It gives it some character! The coat will likely change until it’s all grown up.
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