Do Kittens Change Fur And Eye Color As They Age?

[Faycharaf]

My kitten is 2 mo old and I think he got some persian himalayan mix in him?

Anyways, will the coloration on his fur and face change or become darker with age?

Also, does eye color change? He seems to have green eyes at the moment

His fur is also very matted and curly most of the time, even though I try to brush it daily. Is it because he is still a kitten?

 

[Kieka]

All kittens will have some coat and eye changes as they mature. Your boy though is special, so he will change even more than most. His coloring is what is called a point, this is not a breed specific trait but it is seen in the Himalayan breed and combined with his features is why we think his breed mix is likely Himalayan and/or Persian.

When we say a cat is a pointed cat, a point, or has point coloring it means that their coat is darker at their extremities and lighter at the core. It is a form of partial albinism resulting from a mutation that affects tyrosinase, an enzyme involved with melanin production. It is a recessive trait that came from the original Siamese cats out of Asian and has spread far and wide. All Siamese cats are pointed, but not all pointed cats are Siamese (although they will have a Siamese ancestor 1 or 1,000 generations back). This trait is heat sensitive which is important to understand to understand why they change.

When a point cat is born it is pure white, this is because they are nice and toasty warm inside Mom. As they age the areas that get colder will start to darken. Nose, ears, tail and paws will be the first areas to get dark. Depending on the specific variation of the gene, their "hidden" colors and their environment they can either stay lighter for most of their lives or get very dark.

The point gene "masks" or "hides" the original coloring your cat would have had if they weren't pointed. A solid black cat with the point gene becomes a seal point, a orange cat will become a flame point, a tabby stripped cat will become a lynx point, areas that are actually white will stay white but any other coloring will seem to slowly be revealed. Think a kids toy that changes color with warm and cold water ... only slower and fuzzy.

My boy, Link, for example would have been a black cat tuxedo or bicolor cat if he wasn't pointed. As a pointed cat though he is a snowshoe lookalike. Here he was at 5 weeks, 6 months, and more recent:

IMG_3024.JPG

• Kieka
• Dec 1, 2016

10534516_10152225433931453_8773040639706025092_n.j

• Kieka
• Dec 2, 2016

14900590_10154028706291453_4107838660705374237_n.j

• Kieka
• Mar 29, 2017

He is still getting darker with each passing year because he is exposed to heat and cold in his environment plus as he ages his body will get worse at regulating heat. Not all pointed cats will darken as much as Link. A pointed cat with a dilute gene will stay lighter, as will an indoor only one with a controlled environment, and ones whose pointed gene is slightly different from Links.

As to the eyes, the same gene has the same effect on the eyes. All pointed cats have a blue eye color. It can be anywhere from a grey blue to a vibrant blue. Most modern pointed cats will have a brighter blue due to selective breeding programs dating back to the early days of recognized cat breeding. The blue coloration and intensity has a link to the hidden color the cats eyes would be without the point gene just as much as their coats do. A cat that would have had green eyes without the point will tend to have a richer blue then a cat that would have had yellow eyes. The blue will also appear to change in intensity with the surroundings and lighting.

It's always interesting and exciting to see how our pointed cats change. Take lots of pictures and some day you will look back on amazement on how much your little guy has changed.

 

[Faycharaf]

What a beautiful and informative post. As a bio nerd I greatly appreciate all the science you’ve included behind this. Bless your cat Link, he is adorable and it’s amazing to see how much he’s changed over the years!

All kittens will have some coat and eye changes as they mature. Your boy though is special, so he will change even more than most. His coloring is what is called a point, this is not a breed specific trait but it is seen in the Himalayan breed and combined with his features is why we think his breed mix is likely Himalayan and/or Persian.

When we say a cat is a pointed cat, a point, or has point coloring it means that their coat is darker at their extremities and lighter at the core. It is a form of partial albinism resulting from a mutation that affects tyrosinase, an enzyme involved with melanin production. It is a recessive trait that came from the original Siamese cats out of Asian and has spread far and wide. All Siamese cats are pointed, but not all pointed cats are Siamese (although they will have a Siamese ancestor 1 or 1,000 generations back). This trait is heat sensitive which is important to understand to understand why they change.

When a point cat is born it is pure white, this is because they are nice and toasty warm inside Mom. As they age the areas that get colder will start to darken. Nose, ears, tail and paws will be the first areas to get dark. Depending on the specific variation of the gene, their "hidden" colors and their environment they can either stay lighter for most of their lives or get very dark.

The point gene "masks" or "hides" the original coloring your cat would have had if they weren't pointed. A solid black cat with the point gene becomes a seal point, a orange cat will become a flame point, a tabby stripped cat will become a lynx point, areas that are actually white will stay white but any other coloring will seem to slowly be revealed. Think a kids toy that changes color with warm and cold water ... only slower and fuzzy.

My boy, Link, for example would have been a black cat tuxedo or bicolor cat if he wasn't pointed. As a pointed cat though he is a snowshoe lookalike. Here he was at 5 weeks, 6 months, and more recent:

IMG_3024.JPG

• Kieka
• Dec 1, 2016

10534516_10152225433931453_8773040639706025092_n.j

• Kieka
• Dec 2, 2016

14900590_10154028706291453_4107838660705374237_n.j

• Kieka
• Mar 29, 2017

He is still getting darker with each passing year because he is exposed to heat and cold in his environment plus as he ages his body will get worse at regulating heat. Not all pointed cats will darken as much as Link. A pointed cat with a dilute gene will stay lighter, as will an indoor only one with a controlled environment, and ones whose pointed gene is slightly different from Links.

As to the eyes, the same gene has the same effect on the eyes. All pointed cats have a blue eye color. It can be anywhere from a grey blue to a vibrant blue. Most modern pointed cats will have a brighter blue due to selective breeding programs dating back to the early days of recognized cat breeding. The blue coloration and intensity has a link to the hidden color the cats eyes would be without the point gene just as much as their coats do. A cat that would have had green eyes without the point will tend to have a richer blue then a cat that would have had yellow eyes. The blue will also appear to change in intensity with the surroundings and lighting.

It's always interesting and exciting to see how our pointed cats change. Take lots of pictures and some day you will look back on amazement on how much your little guy has changed.

hat a bea

 

[Kieka]

His fur is also very matted and curly most of the time, even though I try to brush it daily. Is it because he is still a kitten?

Missed this part, sorry.

His coat is going to need daily brushing and probably weekly baths. It's the likely the Persian influence on his coat that you are seeing. Look up specifically how to groom Persians for tips and tricks to avoid matting and grease build up. These may be of some help too:

What Is Grooming A Show Cat Like?
Persian Kitten’s Fur

One factor to long term grooming success is to start routine for grooming now. The more used to regular brushing and bathing your cat is now the easier it will be when he gets older. It is also more common with Himalayan and Persian cats to get an annual lions cut from professional groomer (one experienced with cats is a must), although not generally for a cat who is showing. My understanding is it is people who live in warmer climates and those who have trouble with deep mats forming despite grooming efforts.

 

[Katie M]

When Charlie first came to me, his eyes were just starting to change from blue to their permanent color. For a while, I thought they would be green, but they turned out greenish-yellow.