Is fur changing color a cause for concern?

8whiskers

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One of my torties, Turtle, seems to be going gray. Normally, she is a very strong orange/black/tan colored tortie, but I've noticed patches (especially where she pulls her fur out in clumps which a cannot seem to stop from happening) the under-fur is very gray. No sign of pattern, shading or washed out color. She'll be 5 this May, so it's not old age, but is it a sign of a health problem? Or does this just "happen"?
 

stephanietx

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Interesting and I don't have an answer to that question.  Have you noticed this previously when it's shedding season?  The fur pulling thing could be food or litter allergies.  Have you talked to the vet about it?
 
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8whiskers

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The only other time I've seen this is another LH tortie I used to have a long time ago. When she got into her teens her fur started to go a little gray. But she didn't do the fur pulling thing.

I'm not sure why Turtle pulls her fur out - but it's one of the most disturbing things I've ever seen! She is on 2.5 mg of Prozac a day that seems to help intermittently. All my kitties are on high quality food, no by-products or fillers. Their wet food (which she doesn't eat much of, she prefers dry) is grain free.

I suspect the fur pulling may be partially stress related (hence the prozac) because she's the youngest, newest, smallest cat. She's also Mama's baby. She tends to get picked on by a couple of the older, bigger cats (but lately she's been the one doing the chasing of a few).

I'm bringing another kitty to the vet on Monday for a follow up for bladder stones, and I'll ask about it then. She has such pretty fur (when she's not yanking it out by the mouthful) and I want to keep it that way!
 

stephanietx

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Have you tried Feliway to help lower the stress in the house for all the kitties?  That might help.
 
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8whiskers

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I have tried Feliway throughout the house, it didn't seem to do a darn thing for them. :-(
 
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